James McGrath

Background

About James McGrath

James serves as an executive, strategist and business development leader in the transportation, planning and design marketplace. He is the Global Practice Chair for Transportations at Perkins & Will, leading strategy and business development for transit, rail and aviation sectors. Simultaneously he serves as the Director of Partnerships & Programs at Nelson\Nygaard leading business development for major programs and full-service pursuits. He also serves on the DARGroup Mobility Council advising on the approach to new markets and internal synergies. James fulfills these leadership roles with a unique skill set that spans from planning and engineering, through architecture, landscape and urban design, to project implementation and consulting business management. He has 20 years of diverse experience in the planning, design and construction of the central city public realm including light rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar corridors, active transportation networks and facilities, complete streets, new bridges and urban parks. James knows how to connect ideas about urban development futures to the planning and design of transit systems today. His ability to speak the multiple technical languages—of transit planning, civil engineering, traffic analysis, ridership modelling and urban design, station architecture and development economics—enable him to serve as the glue on projects, facilitating needed collaborations, synthesizing ideas, and leading teams toward integrated, sustainable, and refined urban infrastructure solutions. James builds credibility with partners and stakeholders and finds the critical balance to move projects forward.