Mixed Deck — All CTE Topics Flashcards

What is the purpose of congestion pricing in urban transportation planning?

Answer: To reduce traffic congestion and raise funds for transportation improvements

Congestion pricing involves charging drivers a fee for using certain roads or areas during peak hours. Its primary purpose is to discourage driving in congested areas, thereby reducing traffic jams and improving travel times for essential services and public transport. The revenue generated from these fees is often reinvested into public transportation and infrastructure improvements, further enhancing urban mobility and sustainability.

What is a 'park-and-ride' facility and what transportation goal does it serve?

Answer: A facility where commuters park vehicles and transfer to transit to complete their trips, reducing auto traffic in congested corridors

Park-and-ride facilities intercept auto trips at the urban fringe and transfer riders to transit, reducing vehicle volumes in congested urban corridors and serving commuters who cannot access transit from home.

What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and what distinguishes it from standard bus service?

Answer: BRT is a high-capacity bus service with dedicated lanes, off-board fare payment, level boarding, and frequent service resembling rail transit

BRT combines the flexibility of buses with rail-like features — dedicated bus lanes, station platforms with off-board fare payment, level boarding, frequent service, and transit signal priority — to provide faster, more reliable service.

What is 'travel time reliability' and why is it important in ITS performance measurement?

Answer: The consistency of travel times from day to day, reflecting predictability of the transportation system

Travel time reliability measures day-to-day variability in travel times; a reliable facility has consistent travel times that travelers can plan around, which FHWA measures using the Planning Time Index (PTI) and Buffer Index (BI).

Which greenhouse gas is the primary concern from mobile source emissions in the transportation sector?

Answer: Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels is the dominant greenhouse gas from the transportation sector, accounting for the largest share of US transport GHG emissions.

What is DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communications) used for in connected vehicle applications?

Answer: Short-range wireless communication between vehicles and infrastructure (V2X) for safety and mobility applications

DSRC uses the 5.9 GHz band for low-latency, short-range (up to ~1,000m) vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication to support safety applications like intersection collision warning.

Which Clean Air Act provision requires transportation plans and programs in nonattainment areas to conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP)?

Answer: Transportation Conformity

Transportation Conformity ensures that federally funded transportation plans, programs, and projects in nonattainment/maintenance areas do not worsen air quality or impede SIP attainment.

What is 'ramp metering' and what transportation benefit does it provide?

Answer: Controlling the rate at which vehicles enter a freeway on-ramp using traffic signals, to maintain mainline traffic flow

Ramp metering uses a signal at freeway on-ramps to regulate vehicle entry rates, preventing traffic demand from exceeding freeway capacity and maintaining stable flow that prevents breakdown and reduces throughput loss.

Why is drainage design important in highway construction?

Answer: To prevent flooding and road damage by managing water runoff

Drainage design is crucial in highway construction to effectively collect and divert rainwater away from the road surface and subgrade. Proper drainage prevents hydroplaning, reduces pavement deterioration caused by water infiltration, and maintains the structural integrity and longevity of the highway. This ensures safe driving conditions and extends the lifespan of the road.

What is the significance of shoulder design in highway construction?

Answer: To provide space for emergencies and safe stops

Highway shoulders are paved or unpaved strips alongside the main travel lanes, serving multiple critical functions. They provide a safe refuge for disabled vehicles, allow for emergency stops, and enable emergency services to bypass congestion. This significantly enhances safety and operational efficiency on highways by keeping main lanes clear.

Which method is FHWA's preferred approach for pavement type selection when comparing asphalt vs. concrete on federal-aid projects?

Answer: Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)

FHWA requires that pavement type selection for federal-aid projects be based on LCCA, which compares the total present worth of agency and user costs over the analysis period.

In the Superpave mix design system, what is the 'design number of gyrations' (Ndesign) based on?

Answer: The anticipated traffic loading level (ESALs) over the design life

Superpave Ndesign specifies the number of gyrations in the SGC used to compact mix design samples, selected based on the design traffic level in ESALs — higher traffic requires more gyrations for denser compaction.

What is a 'transit-oriented development' (TOD)?

Answer: Compact, mixed-use development within walking distance of high-frequency transit stations designed to promote transit ridership

TOD creates walkable, mixed-use communities centered around transit stations, combining residential, commercial, and employment uses within a quarter- to half-mile radius to maximize transit ridership and reduce auto dependence.

What is a traffic impact analysis?

Answer: A study of how a new project affects local traffic

A traffic impact analysis (TIA) is a specialized study conducted to assess the potential effects of a proposed development or project on the surrounding transportation network. It evaluates how the new project will generate and distribute traffic, identifying potential congestion points, safety concerns, and the need for infrastructure improvements. The TIA helps planners and developers make informed decisions to mitigate adverse traffic impacts and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Which water quality standard is most relevant for evaluating highway project runoff impacts on receiving streams?

Answer: Narrative and numeric criteria in state water quality standards

State water quality standards, including narrative criteria and numeric criteria for parameters like TSS, phosphorus, and metals, define acceptable water quality and serve as the basis for evaluating nonpoint source impacts.

Why is environmental impact considered in transportation planning?

Answer: To ensure the project complies with environmental regulations

Environmental impact is a critical consideration in transportation planning primarily to ensure projects adhere to legal and regulatory requirements, such as environmental protection laws. Beyond compliance, evaluating environmental effects helps mitigate negative consequences like air and noise pollution, habitat destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable planning aims to minimize these impacts and promote environmentally responsible transportation solutions for long-term community health.

What factors should be considered in transportation demand forecasting?

Answer: Economic activity, land use, and transportation trends

Transportation demand forecasting requires a comprehensive understanding of various factors that influence travel behavior. Economic activity, such as employment and income levels, directly impacts the need for commuting and freight movement. Land use patterns dictate trip origins and destinations, while existing transportation trends, including mode choice and infrastructure usage, provide historical context. Considering these interconnected elements allows for more accurate predictions of future travel demand.

What is the purpose of the Performance Grade (PG) binder specification system developed under SHRP?

Answer: Grading binders based on climate-specific high- and low-temperature performance limits

The PG specification grades asphalt binders by the temperature range in which they meet performance criteria — high temperature for rutting resistance and low temperature for cracking resistance — matched to local climate.

In flexible pavement design, what is 'rutting' and what layer is most often responsible?

Answer: Permanent surface deformation in wheel paths; most often caused by the asphalt surface or intermediate layer

Rutting is permanent vertical deformation accumulating in wheel paths, typically caused by inadequate resistance to shear deformation in the hot-mix asphalt surface or binder course under heavy repeated loads.

Which truck combination is known as a 'Rocky Mountain Double'?

Answer: A combination with a long semitrailer followed by a shorter 28-foot pup trailer

A Rocky Mountain Double consists of a long semitrailer (typically 40-48 feet) coupled to a shorter trailer (typically 28 feet) via a converter dolly, providing greater cargo capacity than a standard semi.