Laura Grams

As a regional transit lead, Laura works to develop and enhance client relationships and develop staff involved in policy, systems planning, corridor planning and development, funding, and operations and safety. Her work spans all transit modes, including local bus, bus rapid transit, light rail and commuter rail, helping clients develop and implement projects that enhance their communities.

She serves as the program manager for our long-standing General Planning Consultant services contract with Houston METRO. In this role, she directs the day-to-day management of the contract, working closely with both METRO and HDR’s team to improve mobility for Houstonians.

In her work with Houston and more broadly, Laura is passionate about supporting Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. She co-authored an article explaining our approach, "Collaborative Strategies to Strengthen S/DBE Engagement on Transportation Infrastructure Programs.”

She is most passionate about people and relationships. It is through relationships that we best leverage talents and are successful in building projects that positively affect communities. Her most rewarding experience has been developing and mentoring staff. Recently, she has worked with team members across the U.S and notes that it’s extremely rewarding to watch them grow personally and professionally. One person, in particular, has made a lasting impact on her life, and years later, they continue to meet monthly to encourage and support one another.

Laura is also known for her entrepreneurship, developing a patent-pending transit solution that won “Most Likely to Be Implemented Today” at the 2014 American Public Transportation Association Public Transportation Innovation Challenge.

Laura graduated from the 2020/2021 Leadership APTA Class and is actively engaged with the APTA Emerging Leaders Committee as both a member and mentor. She wrote the APTA white paper “Transit Leadership in the Post-COVID-19 Mobility Landscape: Part Two: Measures to Improve Workforce and Rider Behaviors and Influence Messaging and Branding” in September 2020. She is also an active member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.