The 2027 WTS International Annual Conference: A Monumental 50th will be held May 4-6, 2027 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. We are seeking abstracts from all transportation modes, including roads, transit, rail, active transportation, freight, aviation, maritime, and ports. We strongly encourage diversity and inclusion across all transportation modes and speakers, and we welcome abstracts that highlight equity, regardless of topic. Consider sharing your specialized transportation knowledge, innovations, insights, and experience in a breakout panel session or WTS Talks Presentation at the 2027 WTS Annual Conference. This will be a dynamic opportunity to showcase your ideas in Washington, DC.  

 

To ensure strong representation and alignment with WTS’ mission, panel submissions must meet the following criteria:  

• The right presenters are as important as the right topic.  Note that there is a maximum of 5 speakers permitted for each Breakout panel, which includes the moderator, with no exceptions. Panels cannot include more than two speakers from the same organization.    

• Each panel must include at least one representative from the public sector or a nonprofit organization. Panels consisting of exclusively consultants will not be accepted.    

• At least two panelists must be current WTS members.   

• Panels should incorporate broad perspectives such as experience levels, organization sizes, transportation modes, public agencies and private companies and/or geographic regions.   

• We encourage breakout panels and WTS Talks presentations that move beyond success stories to candidly share the realities of the transportation industry, including challenges encountered, competing priorities, difficult decisions, course corrections, and lessons learned. The most impactful sessions provide practical insights, tools and resources that attendees can immediately apply to their own work.   

• Panels and WTS talks may include an exploration of best practices with a focus on practical application of key practices and lessons learned to guide future success. Other example areas may include specific projects and managing risks and expectations.  

• Panels and WTS Talks must align with one of the conference Topics  

Abstracts must be submitted by Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  

 

Submit A Conference Abstract

 

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The following topics will serve as the foundation for all breakout session content, including panel and WTS Talks presentations, at the conference (descriptions of each topic below): 

Topic 1: Built to Last — Infrastructure, Legacy, and the Next 50 Years  

Transportation infrastructure carries a long-term responsibility: to connect communities, support economies, and serve generations. This track examines how transportation agencies, firms, and partners across North America are planning, funding, designing, delivering, maintaining, and modernizing infrastructure with a long-term lens. How do we create systems that are resilient, equitable, adaptable, and prepared for the next 50 years? What approaches are helping organizations balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s demands?  

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to: infrastructure funding and financing; planning, design, construction, and project delivery; asset management and modernization; climate resilience and adaptation; equitable development and community impact; preservation and rehabilitation; megaprojects; and innovative approaches applicable across transportation modes.  

  

Topic 2: Women Shaping Transportation Policy and Decision-Making  

Transportation policy and investment decisions shape how people and goods move, how communities grow, and how transportation systems evolve. This track focuses on women who are shaping, influencing, and implementing transportation policy at the national/federal, state/provincial, regional, and local levels across North America. How are women using leadership, advocacy, research, technical expertise, and collaboration to influence decisions and drive meaningful change? What does it take to build influence in policy-driven environments and strengthen the pipeline of women prepared to lead transportation organizations and public agencies?  

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to: national/federal, state/provincial, regional, and local transportation policy; women in executive, appointed, and decision-making roles; regulatory and legislative developments; funding and investment policy; public-private partnerships; transportation equity; advocacy and stakeholder engagement; and policy issues affecting all transportation modes.  
 

Topic 3: Connected Mobility — Multimodal Networks and the Future of Transportation  

Transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, requiring agencies, operators, planners, designers, and private-sector partners to think beyond individual modes. This track explores how networks connect people, goods, places, and opportunity — and what it takes to plan, operate, integrate, and improve transportation across modes and jurisdictions. How are organizations addressing congestion, access, first- and last-mile connections, capacity, aging infrastructure, and changing travel and freight patterns? What approaches are improving mobility, connectivity, and system performance across North America?  

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to: multimodal planning and integration; passenger and freight mobility; rail, transit, roadway, aviation, maritime, port, and active transportation connections; first- and last-mile solutions; intermodal facilities and hubs; rural, suburban, and urban mobility; accessibility; regional and cross-jurisdictional coordination; and strategies that improve network performance and user experience.  
 

Topic 4: Technology Transforming Transportation  

Technology is rapidly changing how transportation systems are planned, designed, built, operated, maintained, and experienced. This track explores emerging and evolving technologies across transportation modes and the practical implications of deploying them responsibly. How are organizations using technology to improve safety, efficiency, reliability, sustainability, customer experience, and decision-making? What lessons are emerging from implementation, and what opportunities, risks, workforce needs, and equity considerations should the industry address as innovation accelerates?  

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to: artificial intelligence and machine learning; automation and autonomous systems; electrification and alternative fuels; connected infrastructure and mobility; digital twins, modeling, and simulation; data analytics and decision-support tools; cybersecurity and data governance; intelligent transportation and operational technologies; emerging technologies in aviation, maritime, freight, rail, roadway, transit, and active transportation; and equitable technology deployment.  
 

Topic 5: The 50-Year Workforce — Recruiting, Retaining, and Advancing Women in Transportation  

WTS turns 50 in 2027, and the workforce it has championed looks fundamentally different because of it. This track examines where the industry stands on gender equity in transportation careers — and where it must go. What recruitment, retention, and advancement strategies are working? How are organizations addressing pay equity, workplace culture, and leadership development in a sector still navigating historic gender gaps? What does a transportation workforce look like 50 years from now, and how do we build it intentionally?  

Topics of interest: pay equity and compensation transparency; inclusive hiring practices; leadership development programs; mentorship and sponsorship; workplace culture and retention; workforce data and accountability.  
 

Topic 6: Empowering Pathways — Emerging Professionals Charting the Future  

Emerging leaders want a clear path. This track is for the next generation of transportation leaders ready to make their own. How are students and early-career professionals finding their footing, building networks, and creating impact in an industry being reshaped by technology, policy, and shifting workforce demands? What does it take to move from emerging professional to recognized leader — and how can WTS chapters and mentors accelerate that journey?  

Topics of interest: career navigation and goal-setting; networking and relationship-building; research and academic contributions; early-career leadership opportunities; student chapter programming; mentorship and sponsorship; WTS scholarship experiences; and pathways from student or emerging professional to industry leader.   
 

Topic 7: Small Business Resilience — Adapting and Thriving in Transportation  

Small businesses and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) play an essential role throughout the transportation industry, from engineering, construction, and planning to logistics, technology, professional services, and operations. At the same time, these firms must navigate changing regulations, workforce constraints, supply-chain pressures, access to capital, procurement requirements, and evolving market conditions. This track invites presentations, case studies, and research examining the challenges small transportation businesses face and the practical strategies they are using to adapt, compete, grow, and remain resilient. Submissions should highlight lessons learned, successful pivots, innovative business practices, partnerships, and approaches that position small firms for long-term success.  

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to: small business and DBE resilience; regulatory and policy navigation; procurement and contracting; access to capital; workforce recruitment and retention; supply-chain challenges; business continuity and risk management; partnerships and joint ventures; technology adoption; succession and growth strategies; and successful operational or business-model pivots across transportation modes. 

Submit A Conference Abstract