James McGrath

AIA, ASLA, AICP
Principal, Transportation Practice Leader, Transportation

To James, transit is more than a way to move people from place to place. It offers the freedom to pursue new opportunities, enjoy independence, and explore the world. That’s why his work focuses on amplifying the dignity and delight of the people who live, travel, and thrive in cities. 

Trained as an architect and urban designer, James has crossed disciplines throughout his career, guiding projects from concept through delivery in mobility planning, major infrastructure design, urban open spaces, and station area district development. He now leads our firmwide transportation practice and collaborates with our studios, our partners at Nelson\Nygaard, and the Sidara Collaborative on projects around the globe.  

James lives with his wife and children in Portland, Oregon, where he planned and designed many aspects of the regional transit system early in his career. The system’s enduring safety, reliability, and ease of use are among his most gratifying accomplishments, and he’s proud that his children use it to get to and from school every day. 

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Say hello to James
“A good transit project is inextricably woven into the fabric of the city, both in the sense of the service provided and the places created.”
Fun fact

A native of Queens, New York, James is a lifelong Mets fan and is forever holding out hope for another World Series victory. 

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