MnDOT design guide transition
MnDOT is transitioning from the Road Design Manual to the Facility Design Guide
By: Kevin Joyce, State Aid Assistant Plans Engineer
MnDOT has officially transitioned from the Road Design Manual (RDM) to its successor, the Facility Design Guide (FDG). On December 12, 2024, two final transmittal packages were published following approval and concurrence by FHWA on December 10, 2024. With the release of these packages, all content from the RDM has been retired, reproduced, or updated within the FDG, and the RDM is now formally retired.
The “facility” in the FDG is to encompass all multi-modal transportation systems, including roadways, that operate within our transportation framework. Manual has also been changed to “guide” to allow for flexibility in design where the context allows.
Moving forward, designers shall follow the guidance set by the FDG in lieu of the RDM, as well as the requirements presented in the current State Aid Manual and Standards for state and/or federal aid projects.
Historical versions of the RDM, along with associated transmittal letters, can be found on the FDG webpage under the link “Road Design Manual (RDM) records.” While the RDM webpage will remain temporarily available during the decommissioning process, access to the RDM and its historical versions will continue to be available through the FDG webpage.
To stay informed about updates to road design guidance, please consider subscribing to MnDOT’s electronic mailing list. You can sign up at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDOT/subscriber/ new to receive notifications about future updates.