Capital Ideas

Submit a session proposal

Capital Ideas — submit a session proposal

All plenary and session proposals are due on July 13, 2018 at 8 p.m. EDT. All proposals should be submitted with this form.

Transportation for America invites cutting-edge proposals for conference roundtable sessions and general plenary sessions that pertain to the emerging paradigm shift characterizing our transportation landscape today—disruption and uncertainty. The plenary and roundtable discussions at Capital Ideas 2018 seeks to address the following questions:

  • How will states manage their role in transportation funding & policy during this time of dramatic transition and change?
  • What is the appropriate role of state government in a disruptive world of transportation policy?
  • What can states do to ensure that our transportation network is equitable, accessible, safe and affordable?  
  • Are our investment decisions today ensuring stronger local economies, greater access to opportunity and jobs, cleaner environments, healthier populations or better mobility for everyone in the future?
  • With a continually shifting and uncertain future for federal transportation funding, how can states successfully fund transportation investments and how will they demonstrate the value of their investments?
  • Session types

    1. Plenary panels

    We will have four panels over the span of two days. These panels will be general sessions for all conference attendees. Each panel will run one-hour in length and should include three to four speakers plus a moderator. Plenary sessions are designed to cover broad topic areas related to transportation policy, funding or operations and delivery. (Powerpoint presentations are preferred but not required.)

    2. Roundtable Breakout Sessions

    Roundtable breakout sessions are smaller group settings open to any conference participant. We will host 20 breakout sessions throughout the conference, with several running concurrently. These sessions are 45 minutes in length and will feature one or two speakers/discussion leaders and will be more interactive with conference participants than the general plenary sessions. These are a deep-dive into chosen topic areas and will include both a presentation and time for back-and-forth question and answer. Breakout sessions will not include powerpoint presentations but may include printed materials.

    What type of session are you proposing?

  • Where does your session fit?

    Which of Capital Ideas' main topic area(s) best describes your session proposal? Check no more than three boxes.

  • Evaluation criteria

    • Creativity! How will your session make participants think outside the box?
    • Thoughtfulness and organization of session as described in the proposal
    • Application to diverse disciplines
    • Focus on implementation - safety, equity, access and affordability
    • Level of engagement for participants
  • In describing your session topic and objectives, tell us how your session proposal is related to the theme of the conference. (no more than 200 words).
  • Describe what knowledge or skills participants will gain from the session (no more than 200 words).
  • How will your session will help participants advance their ability to influence state transportation policy & funding (no more than 350 words).
  • If so, where?
  • Things to know

    Please provide information for the primary point of contact for session planning. If the proposal is accepted the primary point of contact for the session will be responsible for coordinating all content, speakers, and materials for the session. If selected, session descriptions will be used to market the session on print materials and online.

    We may adjust your session title/description. We may combine proposals to form sessions. If so, presenters will be contacted in advance. If accepted, your session may be scheduled at any time during the conference. You will be notified in advance.

    Submitting authors will be informed of proposal status by July 15, 2018.

    For any questions about this session proposal application, contact Alicia Orosco at alicia.orosco@t4america.org. Session proposals will be accepted until June 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. EDT and only through this survey form.