The opening of our new Saint Paul office is just around the corner. In this series of Employee Spotlights, we’ll get to know our Saint Paul office leaders. Next up is Pat Corkle. As the current Traffic Engineering and Special Studies practice lead at SRF’s Plymouth Office, Pat will also serve as the overall lead for the Saint Paul office operations.
How did you did you get started in the traffic engineering and concept design field?
In 1994, I was extremely fortunate to meet, work for, and be mentored by a passionate and creative traffic engineer named Denny Eyler. His ability to look at traffic volumes and develop creative solutions inspired me to follow in his footsteps.
What are you looking forward to with the opening of the new office?
I am looking forward to the excitement of a new challenge in my career, seeing the office planning effort taking physical form and working in a central location with so many activities nearby. The Saint Paul Office location is less than five miles away from where I grew up, so this is a sort of a homecoming for me.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I really enjoy guiding and providing input into the concept design process, resulting in a win-win project for the stakeholders involved. Nothing feels better than seeing a roomful of reasonable people agree on a preferred project concept and it watching it become a reality.
What lunch or happy hour spot near the new office will you visit first?
Surley Brewery. I don’t drink very often, but when I do, it is a Furious. I’m also expanding the category, because I’m excited about golf courses in the Saint Paul area, including the Como Golf Course (I played here as a youth) and Highland National.
What’s your favorite SRF project to-date and why?
I have three memorable projects, but so many more that could make the list. The first is the Lake Street Reconstruction Project in Minneapolis. It took me away from the typical technical work to an intense public involvement process, working with politicians and neighborhood groups. The second is the Target Field Transportation Management Plan, which showed me how a collaborative group can transform a tough transportation challenge into a non-issue. The third is the Southwest Light Rail Preliminary Engineering Project; I really enjoyed the intense pace and working quickly to address transportation issues with the project office staff and partners.