Project Management
7-12%of exam
CPM & FloatCost EstimatingEarthwork VolumeBuy vs Rent
Traffic Engineering
12-19%of exam
LOS & CapacityPHF & v/cTrip GenerationSafety & CMFsHCM 6th Edition
Roadside & Cross-Section
8-14%of exam
Clear Zone WidthsSlope CategoriesBarriers & Crash CushionsADA Cross Slope
Horizontal Design
10-15%of exam
Degree of CurveSuperelevation e+fMiddle OrdinateCurve Widening
Vertical Design
10-15%of exam
SSD FormulaCrest Curve LengthSag Curve LengthK-Value
Intersection Geometry
8-14%of exam
ISD FormulaRoundabout ElementsInterchange TypesTurn Lane Warrants
Traffic Signals
6-10%of exam
Yellow IntervalAll-Red ClearanceSignal WarrantsPedestrian Timing
Traffic Control Design
6-10%of exam
MUTCD Sign ClassesTaper LengthTTC Zone LayoutDevice Spacing
Geotechnical & Pavement
7-12%of exam
CBR & Resilient ModulusStructural Number SNFlexible vs RigidCompaction & Earthwork
Drainage
10-15%of exam
Rational MethodManning's EquationCulvert ControlDetention & BMPs
Quick Facts
- Exam
- PE Civil Transportation depth
- Body
- NCEES
- Format
- 80-question single CBT
- Time
- 9-hour appointment, 8-hour work
- Scoring
- Scaled cut score, no fixed %
- Fee
- $400 NCEES exam fee
- Pass rate
- 55% first-time, 42% repeat
- Retake wait
- 90 days to next window
- References
- NCEES Handbook plus 9 standards
- Provider
- Pearson VUE, year-round testing
Scheduling & Cost Basics
- CPM
- Longest path sets duration
- Total float
- Delay without delaying project
- Free float
- Slack before next activity
- Crash cost
- Cost to shorten one day
- Break-even buy vs rent
- Purchase minus salvage over rent
- Average end area method
- Volume = L times avg area
- Present worth
- Converts future cost to today
- Bid quantity
- Engineer's estimated pay quantity
PHF Formula Anchor
Divide hour volume by four times peak 15
V over 4×V15Range 0.25 to 1.0Closer to 1 = flatter demand
Capacity & Flow Basics
- PHF formula
- V / (4×V15)
- v/c ratio
- Demand over capacity
- LOS grades
- A best to F worst
- Capacity
- Max sustainable flow rate
- DHV / AADT
- Design hour vs annual avg
- Trip generation
- ITE rates by land use
- Modal split
- Share of trips by mode
Safety & Analysis Terms
- Crash rate (MEV)
- Crashes per million entering vehicles
- CMF
- Less than 1 = fewer crashes
- HSM
- AASHTO Highway Safety Manual
- Conflict point
- Location paths cross or merge
- Collision diagram
- Plots crash type and location
- HCM 6th edition
- 2016 TRB capacity reference
Exam Reference Standards
- AASHTO GDHS-7
- 7th ed 2018 Green Book
- AASHTO RSDG-4
- 4th ed 2011 roadside guide
- AASHTO HSM-1
- 1st ed 2010 safety manual
- HCM 6th edition
- 2016 TRB, four volumes
- MUTCD 2009
- With Revisions 1 and 2
- AASHTO MEPDG-3
- 3rd ed 2022 pavement guide
- AASHTO GDPS-4-M
- 4th ed 1993 pavement design
- AASHTO GPF-2
- 2nd ed 2021 pedestrian guide
- FHWA HDS-5
- 3rd ed 2012 culvert design
Slope Category Order
Recoverable flattest, then non-recoverable, then critical steepest
1V:4H recoverable1V:3H to 4H non-recoverableSteeper than 1V:3H critical
Recoverable vs Critical Slope
Recoverable (1V:4H+)
- Most drivers regain control
- Flattest, safest slope category
Critical (steeper than 1V:3H)
- Vehicle rollover risk high
- Needs barrier or flattening
Steeper slope = higher rollover risk
Roadside & Barrier Terms
- Clear zone
- Recoverable roadside border area
- Recoverable slope
- 1V:4H or flatter
- Non-recoverable slope
- Steeper than 1V:4H, traversable
- Critical slope
- Steeper than 1V:3H, rollover risk
- Crash cushion
- Absorbs impact before fixed object
- Longitudinal barrier warrant
- Off-road hazard worse than hit
- ADA cross slope
- Max 2% (1:48) sidewalk
- Shared-use path
- Combined bike and pedestrian path
Which Horizontal Curve Formula
- Need curve sharpness value→D=5729.58/R degree of curve
- Need superelevation rate→e+f=V²/15R gives e
- Need min radius for design speed→Rmin=V²/(15(emax+fmax))
- Sight-blocking object on inside→m=R(1-cos(28.65S/R))
- Need distance to arc midpoint→M=R(1-cos(Δ/2))
- Sharp curve, wide design vehicle→Add pavement widening on curve
Horizontal Curve Formulas
- Degree of curve
- D=5729.58/R
- Middle ordinate
- M=R(1-cos(Δ/2))
- Superelevation formula
- e+f=V²/15R
- Min radius formula
- Rmin=V²/(15(emax+fmax))
- Horizontal sight offset
- m=R(1-cos(28.65S/R))
- Curve widening
- More width, smaller sharper radius
- Compound curve
- Two curves, same direction, differing radii
- Reverse curve
- Two curves, opposite directions, no tangent
Vertical Curve Length Constants
Crest divides by 2158, sag by 400 plus 3.5S
Crest: L=AS²/2158Sag: L=AS²/(400+3.5S)K=L/A both curves
Crest vs Sag Curve Length
Crest curve
- Governed by stopping sight distance
- Constant 2158 in formula
Sag curve
- Governed by headlight sight distance
- Constant 400+3.5S in formula
Crest uses SSD; sag uses headlight
Pick The Right Sight Distance
- Stopping on level tangent→SSD=1.47Vt+V²/30a
- Downgrade or upgrade present→Add ±G inside SSD term
- Cresting hill, blocked view→L=AS²/2158 crest formula
- Dipping sag at night→L=AS²/(400+3.5S) headlight rule
- Passing on two-lane road→Use PSD, much longer than SSD
- Entering from stop-controlled approach→Use ISD=1.47×Vmajor×tg
Vertical Curve Formulas
- SSD formula
- SSD=1.47Vt+V²/(30(a/32.2±G))
- Crest curve length
- L=AS²/2158
- Sag curve length
- L=AS²/(400+3.5S)
- K-value
- Horizontal distance per 1% grade
- K-value formula
- K=L/A
- PSD
- Longer than SSD, opposing traffic
- Vertical clearance
- Min overhead height per AASHTO
Signalized vs Roundabout Intersection
Signalized intersection
- Separates movements by time
- Needs warrant analysis first
Roundabout
- Yield-on-entry, continuous flow
- Lower severity crash pattern
Roundabout deflects speed; signal separates time
Intersection & Interchange Terms
- ISD formula
- ISD=1.47×Vmajor×tg
- Roundabout ICD
- Inscribed circle diameter, controls speed
- Diamond interchange
- Most common freeway-arterial connection
- Channelization
- Islands/markings separate conflicting movements
- Turn lane warrant
- Volume-based charts by movement
- Cloverleaf interchange
- Loop ramps, no signals needed
Signal Timing Formula Picker
- Need change interval time→Y=t+V/(2(a+32.2G))
- Need all-red clearance time→AR=(w+L)/V
- Setting pedestrian clearance interval→Use 3.5 ft/s walking speed
- Deciding whether to install signal→Check MUTCD numbered warrants
- Coordinating adjacent signals→Match cycle length, offset timing
Signal Timing Terms
- Yellow interval
- Y=t+V/(2(a+32.2G))
- All-red clearance
- AR=(w+L)/V
- Signal warrant
- MUTCD numbered volume/ped warrants
- Ped clearance speed
- 3.5 ft/s default MUTCD value
- Signal phasing
- Order of protected/permitted movements
- Railroad preemption
- Signal yields to train priority
- Cycle length
- Total time for all phases
MUTCD Sign Class Memory
Regulatory rules, warning warns, guide directs travelers
Regulatory = state lawWarning = advance noticeGuide = wayfinding info
MUTCD Taper Formula Threshold
Speed 40mph or less
- L=WS²/60 taper length
- Longer taper for slow roads
Speed 45mph or more
- L=WS taper length
- Shorter, linear taper formula
40mph or under uses squared formula
MUTCD & Work Zone Terms
- MUTCD edition
- 2009 with Revisions 1 and 2
- Sign classes
- Regulatory, Warning, Guide series
- Taper, speed ≤40mph
- L=WS²/60
- Taper, speed ≥45mph
- L=WS
- TTC zone areas
- Advance, transition, activity, termination
- Buffer space
- Separates activity from traffic
- Device spacing
- Set by posted speed table
Flexible vs Rigid Pavement
Flexible (asphalt)
- Layered stress cone shape
- Relies more on subgrade
Rigid (concrete)
- Slab bending spreads load
- Relies less on subgrade
Flexible bends; rigid distributes via slab
Subgrade & Pavement Terms
- CBR
- Penetration strength index vs crushed stone
- Resilient modulus (Mr)
- Subgrade stiffness under repeated load
- Structural number (SN)
- SN=a1D1+a2D2m2+a3D3m3
- Flexible vs rigid
- Cone stress vs slab bending
- Compaction
- Density increased by mechanical effort
- Mass balance
- Balances cut and fill volumes
- R-value
- Resistance value, stabilometer test
Culvert Inlet vs Outlet Control
Inlet control
- Headwater and opening govern
- Barrel flows partly full
Outlet control
- Tailwater and friction govern
- Barrel flows full length
Smaller opening or full barrel governs
Which Drainage Method Applies
- Small drainage area, quick estimate→Rational Method, Q=CiA
- Open channel or pipe flow→Manning's Equation for velocity
- Culvert headwater governs capacity→Inlet control, check HW/D
- Culvert barrel or tailwater governs→Outlet control, check tailwater
- Development increases peak runoff→Add detention basin, control rate
Hydrology & Hydraulics Terms
- Rational Method
- Q=CiA, small drainage areas
- Time of concentration (tc)
- Travel time to outlet point
- Manning's Equation
- Velocity from roughness, radius, slope
- Culvert inlet control
- Inlet opening limits capacity
- Culvert outlet control
- Barrel plus tailwater limits capacity
- Detention basin
- Stores runoff, releases at reduced rate
- BMPs
- Structural and non-structural water quality
- Peak flow
- Max rate during storm event
Common Traps
Grade sign in SSD
Uphill G is positive ≠ Downhill G is negative
Degree of curve definition
NCEES uses arc definition ≠ D=5729.58/R, not chord
Taper formula speed split
≤40mph uses L=WS²/60 ≠ ≥45mph uses L=WS only
CMF direction confusion
CMF below 1.0 = fewer crashes ≠ CMF above 1.0 = more crashes
v/c near 1.0 meaning
Approaching 1.0 = LOS F ≠ Signals congestion, not good flow
Slope category thresholds
1V:4H+ is recoverable ≠ Steeper than 1V:3H is critical
Exam standards edition lock
MUTCD 2009 with R1&2 only ≠ Not FHWA's newer 2026 edition
Last Minute
- 1.Bring photo ID matching NCEES record
- 2.Confirm 9-hour appointment includes 50-min break
- 3.80 questions, all scored, work all
- 4.No fixed pass percentage, scaled score
- 5.Standards packet has 9 listed documents
- 6.MUTCD version is 2009 with R1&2
- 7.HCM version is 6th edition 2016
- 8.AASHTO Green Book is GDHS-7, 2018
- 9.Exam mixes SI and USCS units
- 10.Recheck grade sign before finalizing SSD
- 11.Match taper formula to posted speed
- 12.Retake wait is about 90 days
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