CME Project Management & Public Works Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A municipal engineer is using Earned Value Management (EVM) on a road resurfacing project. The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is 0.85. What does this indicate?
- The project is 15% over budget
- The project is progressing at 85% of the planned rate (Correct answer)
- The project has completed 85% of its scope
- The project will finish 15% under budget
Correct answer: The project is progressing at 85% of the planned rate
An SPI of 0.85 means the project is earning only $0.85 of planned value for every $1.00 of scheduled work, indicating it is behind schedule.
Question 2: Which project delivery method transfers the most design and construction risk to the private sector?
- Design-Bid-Build (DBB)
- Construction Management at Risk (CMAR)
- Design-Build (DB)
- Public-Private Partnership (P3) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Public-Private Partnership (P3)
P3 arrangements transfer the broadest range of risks—including design, construction, financing, and operations—to the private partner.
Question 3: A capital improvement plan (CIP) for a municipality typically covers what time horizon?
- 1 year
- 3 years
- 5 to 10 years (Correct answer)
- 25 to 50 years
Correct answer: 5 to 10 years
Most municipal CIPs span 5 to 10 years to align infrastructure investment with budget forecasting and long-range planning cycles.
Question 4: During public works project planning, a Level of Service (LOS) standard is primarily used to:
- Determine contractor prequalification criteria
- Establish performance benchmarks for infrastructure (Correct answer)
- Calculate prevailing wage rates for labor
- Set environmental mitigation requirements
Correct answer: Establish performance benchmarks for infrastructure
LOS standards define the minimum acceptable performance thresholds for infrastructure systems such as roads, water, and wastewater.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a constructability review during project design?
- To verify compliance with environmental regulations
- To identify design elements that may cause construction difficulty or cost overruns (Correct answer)
- To obtain public comment on project aesthetics
- To confirm right-of-way acquisition is complete
Correct answer: To identify design elements that may cause construction difficulty or cost overruns
Constructability reviews identify design features that are difficult or costly to build, allowing corrections before construction documents are finalized.
Question 6: A municipal stormwater infrastructure project is funded by a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan. Which federal requirement is most likely triggered?
- Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act compliance review
- National Historic Preservation Act Section 106
- Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898
Correct answer: Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements
SRF loans are federally capitalized, triggering Davis-Bacon Act requirements that mandate prevailing wage rates for construction workers.
Question 7: In a Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule, 'float' or 'slack' refers to:
- The contingency budget allocated to high-risk activities
- The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying project completion (Correct answer)
- The difference between planned and actual costs
- The buffer time added between construction phases
Correct answer: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying project completion
Float is the amount of time a non-critical activity can slip without affecting the overall project completion date.
CME Project Management & Public Works Planning 2
A municipal engineer is using Earned Value Management (EVM) on a road resurfacing project.
The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is 0.85.
What does this indicate?