Urban Infrastructure Design & Development Flashcards

In urban transit planning, what does 'headway' refer to?

Answer: The time interval between successive transit vehicles on a route

Headway is the scheduled time gap between consecutive vehicles on the same transit route, directly affecting passenger wait times.

Which design standard governs accessible pedestrian facilities, including sidewalk width and curb ramp slopes, in the United States?

Answer: ADA Standards for Accessible Design

The ADA Standards for Accessible Design set federal requirements for pedestrian infrastructure accessibility, including curb ramps, crosswalks, and sidewalk dimensions.

What is 'demand-side management' in municipal water planning?

Answer: Programs that reduce customer water consumption to defer supply infrastructure expansion

Demand-side management uses conservation programs, rate structures, and efficient fixtures to reduce overall water demand rather than building new supply infrastructure.

In urban drainage design, what does the Manning's n coefficient represent?

Answer: Channel roughness affecting flow velocity

Manning's n is an empirical roughness coefficient used in the Manning equation to account for channel surface friction when calculating open-channel flow velocity.

Which type of retaining wall relies on soil weight behind an L-shaped footing to resist overturning forces?

Answer: Cantilever retaining wall

Cantilever retaining walls use the weight of backfill soil on the heel of the footing to develop the overturning resistance, making them efficient for moderate heights.

What is a 'Transportation Demand Management' (TDM) strategy primarily designed to achieve?

Answer: Reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips by promoting alternatives like carpooling and transit

TDM strategies aim to reduce overall vehicle trips and peak-hour demand by encouraging mode shifts to transit, cycling, walking, and ridesharing.

In municipal solid waste planning, what does 'integrated waste management' prioritize first in its hierarchy?

Answer: Source reduction (waste prevention)

The EPA's waste management hierarchy places source reduction at the top because preventing waste generation is more effective than managing waste after it is created.