FE Civil Transportation Engineering

Knowledge area 13 of the FE Civil exam: 9–14 of the 110 questions. The subtopics NCEES lists, how they are tested and worked practice problems with solutions.

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110 questions on the real 5 hours 20 minutes clock, weighted to the NCEES specifications, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every answer.

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What the specification lists

  • Geometric design (e.g., streets, highways, intersections)
  • Pavement system design (e.g., thickness, subgrade, drainage, rehabilitation)
  • Traffic capacity and flow theory
  • Traffic control devices
  • Transportation planning (e.g., travel forecast modeling, safety, trip generation)

From the NCEES FE Civil CBT exam specifications, knowledge area 13.

Line drawing of a curving highway interchange with a traffic signal and lane markings

How Transportation Engineering is tested

Transportation questions cover horizontal and vertical curves, stopping sight distance, superelevation, traffic flow (flow, speed and density), pavement structural number, trip generation and crash rates.

On exam day the relationships you need are in the Reference Handbook section on Civil Engineering. The handbook is the only reference allowed, so practice finding each formula in it rather than memorizing a separate sheet.

Start the free Transportation Engineering drill

FE Civil Transportation Engineering practice problems

Work each problem with your calculator and the handbook, then open the solution.

Problem 1 · Traffic capacity and flow theory

On a road that follows the Greenshields model, the free-flow speed is 55 mph. At a density of 40 veh/mi, the observed flow is 1,800 veh/h. The jam density is most nearly:

  1. A.48.9 veh/mi
  2. B.80.0 veh/mi
  3. C.131 veh/mi
  4. D.220 veh/mi
Show the answer and solution

Answer: D: 220 veh/mi

v = q/k = 1,800/40 = 45 mph. From v = v_f(1 − k/k_j): 45 = 55(1 − 40/k_j), so 40/k_j = 0.1818 and k_j = 220 veh/mi. The observed state is not at capacity, so shortcuts that assume capacity do not apply.

Traffic capacity and flow theory · Reference Handbook: Civil Engineering

Problem 2 · Geometric design

A level roadway has a design speed of 55 mph. Use a perception-reaction time of 2.5 s, a deceleration rate of 11.2 ft/s², and SSD = 1.47Vt + 1.075V²/a with V in mph. The stopping sight distance is most nearly:

  1. A.202 ft
  2. B.290 ft
  3. C.428 ft
  4. D.492 ft
Show the answer and solution

Answer: D: 492 ft

Reaction distance = 1.47(55)(2.5) = 202.1 ft. Braking distance = 1.075(55)²/11.2 = 290.3 ft. SSD = 202.1 + 290.3 = 492 ft.

Geometric design · Reference Handbook: Civil Engineering

Problem 3 · Traffic control devices

Under the MUTCD, the standard background color for warning signs used in temporary traffic control (work) zones is:

  1. A.Yellow
  2. B.Green
  3. C.Orange
  4. D.Red
Show the answer and solution

Answer: C: Orange

The MUTCD assigns orange to temporary traffic control, so drivers recognize work zones at once. Permanent warning signs are black on yellow, guide signs are white on green, and red is limited to stop, yield and prohibitive messages.

Traffic control devices · Reference Handbook: Civil Engineering

Problem 4 · Pavement system design

Select all that apply.

Select all statements that are true about equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs) in pavement design.

  1. A.The standard reference axle is an 18,000 lb (18-kip) single axle with dual tires.
  2. B.Pavement damage increases roughly with the fourth power of axle load.
  3. C.A passenger car contributes about as many ESALs as a loaded truck.
  4. D.Doubling an axle load roughly doubles the pavement damage it causes.
  5. E.A 30,000 lb load on a tandem axle causes less damage than the same load on a single axle.
Show the answer and solution

Answer: A: The standard reference axle is an 18,000 lb (18-kip) single axle with dual tires.; B: Pavement damage increases roughly with the fourth power of axle load.; E: A 30,000 lb load on a tandem axle causes less damage than the same load on a single axle.

Load equivalency factors grow roughly as (axle load/18 kips)⁴, so heavy trucks govern design and cars are negligible. Spreading a load over tandem axles lowers the stress on each axle, so the same total load causes less damage than on one axle.

Pavement system design · Reference Handbook: Civil Engineering

More FE Civil practice problems from every knowledge area

Sit the full exam under the real clock

Take a full timed FE Civil practice exam

110 questions on the real 5 hours 20 minutes clock, weighted to the NCEES specifications, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every answer.

Or start the free Transportation Engineering drill

Common questions

How many Transportation Engineering questions are on the FE Civil exam?

The NCEES FE Civil specification lists 9–14 questions on Transportation Engineering, out of 110. Every examinee gets the same number per knowledge area.

What does Transportation Engineering cover on the FE Civil exam?

Geometric design (e.g., streets, highways, intersections); Pavement system design (e.g., thickness, subgrade, drainage, rehabilitation); Traffic capacity and flow theory; Traffic control devices; Transportation planning (e.g., travel forecast modeling, safety, trip generation).

Where are the Transportation Engineering formulas on exam day?

In the NCEES FE Reference Handbook, which appears on screen during the exam: the Civil Engineering section. Practice with your free copy from MyNCEES so you know where each relationship sits.

Original independent practice questions written to the published NCEES exam specifications. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying).