CTE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CTE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the SAE J3016 standard related to in the context of automated vehicles? → Taxonomy and definitions for levels of driving automation (Levels 0–5)
2. What does 'mitigation sequencing' require in the context of wetland impacts from highway projects? → Avoiding impacts first, then minimizing, then compensating for unavoidable impacts
3. What is the role of traffic signs in highway design? → To provide guidance and safety information to drivers
4. Which Clean Air Act provision requires transportation plans and programs in nonattainment areas to conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP)? → Transportation Conformity
5. In AASHTO pavement design, what does the structural number (SN) represent? → An index reflecting the structural strength of a pavement to support traffic loads
6. Which financial instrument allows transportation agencies to borrow against future federal-aid apportionments to accelerate project delivery? → Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs)
7. Which truck combination is known as a 'Rocky Mountain Double'? → A combination with a long semitrailer followed by a shorter 28-foot pup trailer
8. At what noise level (Leq) does FHWA consider a highway noise impact to occur for Category C land use (residential)? → 67 dB(A)
9. In toll finance, what is the 'coverage ratio' used to measure? → Ratio of toll revenue to debt service requirements
10. What discount rate concept is used in LCCA to convert future costs to present-day dollars? → Real discount rate
11. What is the federal maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit for trucks on the Interstate Highway System? → 80,000 pounds
12. What factors should be considered in transportation demand forecasting? → Economic activity, land use, and transportation trends
13. What is the primary purpose of a State Freight Plan as required under federal transportation law? → To identify and prioritize freight infrastructure needs and investments
14. Which pedestrian crossing type provides the highest level of safety by grade-separating pedestrians from vehicle traffic? → Grade-separated pedestrian overpass or underpass
15. The FHWA highway traffic noise model used for noise impact assessments is called: → TNM (Traffic Noise Model)
16. What is the purpose of transportation systems management? → To optimize the performance of existing systems
17. What is highway signage visibility and why is it important? → To ensure drivers can clearly see signs and follow directions
18. In freight transportation, what does the term 'deadhead' refer to? → A truck or vehicle traveling without a paying load
19. Why is environmental impact considered in transportation planning? → To ensure the project complies with environmental regulations
20. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which agency issues permits for discharge of dredged or fill material into Waters of the US? → Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
21. What is the primary structural advantage of jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) over flexible asphalt pavement? → High beam strength that distributes loads over a larger area, reducing subgrade stress
22. What is the purpose of an 'alternatives analysis' in a highway EIS under NEPA? → To evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives including the no-build alternative
23. Why is stakeholder coordination crucial in transportation systems management? → To ensure all parties are aligned on goals and actions
24. What is the purpose of congestion pricing in transportation systems management? → To reduce traffic congestion and raise funds for improvements
25. What is the role of road curvature in highway safety? → To ensure safe navigation of curves by drivers
26. Which metric is the standard measure of freight productivity and goods movement volume? → Ton-miles
27. Which federal funding program is the largest source of highway capital investment in the United States? → National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)
28. What is the primary distress mode that MEPDG (Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide) predicts for flexible pavements? → Alligator fatigue cracking, longitudinal cracking, and rutting simultaneously
29. Which organization administers the National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP)? → The Transportation Research Board (TRB)
30. Which method is FHWA's preferred approach for pavement type selection when comparing asphalt vs. concrete on federal-aid projects? → Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)