sago4

Call for Papers: ITEA Annual Conference and ITEA Annual School 2026

The International Transportation Economics Association (ITEA) invites submissions of high-quality papers in transportation economics for our annual conference. We also welcome graduate students to participate in our annual school program. Both events will be hosted by the Department of Economics, Università degli studi di Bergamo in Italy.

The University of Bergamo is located in the medieval town of Bergamo, renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Venetian Walls, at the foothills of the Italian Alps, approximately 50 km northeast of Milan. 

Dates and Location

  • ITEA Annual School: June 15-17, 2026
  • ITEA Annual Conference: June 17-19, 2026
  • Venue: Università degli studi di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy

Keynote Speaker

We are pleased to announce that Professor Joan Walker (UC Berkeley) will deliver the conference keynote address. Joan Walker is a leading transportation engineer who teaches and researches behavioral modeling, with expertise in discrete choice analysis and travel behavior. She works to improve the models used for transportation planning, policy, and operations. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)—the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers—and the Zephyr Leadership Award, and has served as Chair of the Committee on Transportation Demand Forecasting (ADB40) for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.

Conference Overview

The ITEA Annual Conference promotes scientific excellence in transportation economics and provides a forum for scholarly exchange. We welcome submissions covering:

  • Theoretical and empirical research
  • All transportation modes
  • Policy analysis and implementation
  • Infrastructure planning and financing
  • Transportation sustainability and environmental impacts
  • Urban mobility and public transit
  • Transportation technology and innovation

Summer School Program

The ITEA Annual School offers young researchers and practitioners a comprehensive introduction to academic research in transportation economics. The program features:

  • Lectures and tutorials by leading researchers
  • Interactive sessions with established scholars
  • Networking opportunities with peers
  • Direct transition to the main conference

Important Dates

  • February 28, 2026 – Extended abstract submission deadline
  • April 1, 2026 – Registration opens
  • April 15, 2026 – Notification of extended abstract acceptance
  • May 1, 2026 – Early-bird registration deadline and full paper submission deadline for prize consideration

Submission Guidelines

  • Submit a full paper or extended abstract (2-4 pages or 400-1,000 words) including:
    • Title and author(s)
    • Research question
    • Methodology
    • Expected results
    • References
  • Note: An author may present only one paper at the conference. If multiple papers by the same author are accepted, either one must be withdrawn or a co-author must present.

Paper Prizes

Two prizes will be awarded at the ITEA Annual Conference. All full papers submitted by May 1st will be considered. If you do not wish to be considered, please email Jonathan Hall (jonathan.hall@ua.edu).

Best Paper by a Junior Researcher

Eligibility requirements:

  • Presenter must be the junior researcher
  • Junior researcher must have received PhD within the past four calendar years
  • Coauthors may be senior scholars (excluding Scientific Committee members)
  • Junior researchers must provide a statement explaining their contribution for co-authored papers
  • Previous winners ineligible for this prize but may compete for Best Overall Paper

Best Overall Paper

Eligibility requirements:

  • Neither presenter nor coauthors can belong to the Scientific Committee
  • Executive/School Committee members may be presenter/coauthor
  • Previous winners eligible

The Scientific Committee reserves the right not to award prizes in any given year.

Conference Leadership

  • ITEA President: Erik Verhoef
  • Local Organizing Committee Chair: Gianmaria Martini
  • School Committee Chair: Stefanie Peer
  • Scientific Committee Chair: Jonathan Hall

Additional Information

For conference updates, submission instructions, accommodation information, and registration details, please visit: www.itea2026.com

Questions?

For any questions about the conference or submission process, please contact Flavio Porta (flavio.porta@unibg.it) or Jonathan Hall (jonathan.hall@ua.edu). For questions about the summer school, please contact Stefanie Peer (stefanie.peer@wu.ac.at).

We look forward to welcoming you to Bergamo in June 2026.