Part 2 — Answer key

Compare your answers after you have finished Part 1.

1. Which planning document sets the long-range, multimodal investment strategy for a metropolitan area over a horizon of roughly two decades?
   Metropolitan transportation plan
2. In the United States, a transportation project generally must be included in the fiscally constrained transportation improvement program to receive most federal surface transportation funding.
   True
3. In the classic four-step travel demand model, which step directly uses trip length or impedance functions to allocate trips between zone pairs?
   Trip distribution
4. When evaluating a signalized intersection in a transportation impact study, which measure is typically used to determine level of service according to the Highway Capacity Manual?
   Control delay per vehicle
5. Which data source is typically most useful as the primary basis for estimating and calibrating current origin–destination patterns in a regional travel demand model?
   Household travel survey
6. A volume-to-capacity ratio of 1.20 at a signalized intersection generally indicates uncongested operations with minimal delay.
   False
7. A regional model is accurately representing highway speeds, but observed transit ridership is much higher than the model predicts. Which component is most likely mis-specified?
   Mode choice utility functions
8. A transit planner wants to evaluate how well a proposed bus rapid transit line serves households without cars within a comfortable walking distance of stations. Which metric most directly reflects this objective?
   Population with walk access to stations
9. A city is exploring how a proposed mixed-use corridor around a new light rail line might shift trips from auto to transit. At this early, sketch-planning stage with limited data, which analytic approach is most appropriate?
   Sketch-planning elasticity-based tool
10. A city is considering implementing a cordon charge for vehicles entering the central business district during peak hours, with revenues dedicated to transit improvements. How is this type of measure best classified?
    Pricing strategy
11. Induced demand can partially offset congestion relief from a highway widening because reduced travel times encourage additional trips and longer travel distances.
    True
12. A small city is considering upgrading a busy bus corridor to bus rapid transit. Which design features are typically associated with BRT rather than conventional bus service? Select all that apply.
    Dedicated running ways; Level boarding at stations; Proof-of-payment off-board fare collection
13. For a sketch-level analysis of a proposed express bus service on a freeway corridor, data are limited. Which available data sources would be most useful to estimate potential ridership? Select all that apply.
    Auto travel times compared to proposed bus travel times; Spatial distribution of employment near proposed stops; Observed park-and-ride lot occupancy on similar routes
14. You are comparing highway widening alternatives in a nonattainment region, and must support a transportation conformity determination. Which performance measure is most appropriate for this purpose?
    Regional VMT and emissions
15. An MPO needs to prioritize a package of projects under a fixed budget, while considering multiple objectives and different stakeholder weightings. Which method best structures this decision-making process?
    Multi-criteria decision analysis
16. You are evaluating the greenhouse gas reduction potential of a regional active transportation plan focused on walking and cycling. Which performance measures best capture this potential? Select all that apply.
    Change in regional VMT; Mode share of walking and cycling; Per capita transportation emissions
17. During model validation, your regional model consistently overestimates volumes on uncongested freeways while matching observed flows on congested screenlines. Which adjustment is most appropriate to test first?
    Adjust free-flow speeds and volume–delay function parameters
18. You are calibrating a nested logit mode choice model with auto and transit nests, where transit includes local bus and park-and-ride options. To maintain a valid nesting structure and realistic sensitivities, which elements must be estimated or specified carefully? Select all that apply.
    Values of time for different user classes; Alternative specific constants; Inclusive value parameters for each nest
19. Arrange the following activities in the typical sequence for developing a metropolitan transportation plan within a performance-based planning framework.
    Correct order: Existing conditions and trends analysis → Goal and objective development → Performance measure selection and target setting → Strategy and project identification → Plan evaluation and adoption