More than a host; a destination 

A special note from the chair of the Capital Ideas host committee

Atlanta, GA was a very intentional choice as the location for this year's Capital Ideas conference. As with our past conferences in Denver and Sacramento, the host city is more than just a place to congregate; its history and experiences are a valuable asset to the conference as a whole. Atlanta is at the forefront of reimagining its transportation system for the 21st century.

This week, we’re excited to announce that the Metro Atlanta Chamber will be chairing the Capital Ideas host committee to help us take advantage of all that Atlanta has to offer. Below is a short excerpt from a welcome note from Dave Williams, Vice President of Infrastructure & Government Affairs at the Chamber, about what Atlanta will offer attendees this year:

Atlanta is the perfect city to host Capital Ideas, as we’re making extraordinary progress on transit, place-making, and economic development.

Now, it’s true; Atlanta is known for its car culture and urban sprawl, like Los Angeles or Houston. But our development patterns have changed profoundly in the last decade, and for the better. Today, Atlanta is at the forefront of building a walkable, bikeable, transit-accessible city; it’s bursting with potential that’s just waiting to be tapped. We’re expanding our public transit system (MARTA), building denser/more walkable communities, revitalizing neighborhoods with infill development, and have passed major legislation advancing transit funding and governance. We’re building the type of city that attracts and retains young talent (and the companies that want to employ them), that enables people to start and raise a family in a community they love, and that allows older Americans to age in place close to their family and friends.

The Atlanta BeltLine exemplifies this transition and is among the most significant development projects in the U.S. today...

Final call for session proposals

The deadline is this Friday, July 13 at 8 p.m. EDT

From commuter rail to dynamic tolling to climate resilience, there are a lot of competing transportation issues that states have to manage. Capital Ideas presents an excellent opportunity to share your expertise with hundreds of legislators, advocates, and transportation professionals from across the country. If you have an idea for an educational session at the conference, submit it before this Friday. The window for proposals will close on July 13 at 8 p.m. EDT.