With one of the most ethnically diverse metropolitan populations in the nation, Houston is poised to become the third most populated city in the U.S. over the second half of the 2020s. WSP’s James Caughorn has called “Space City” home for over twenty years and has worked with clients across Greater Houston. He has led projects for the Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County Toll Road Authority, multiple departments of the City of Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend and numerous design-build clients. Caughorn’s work analyzes future trends through four lenses: climate, society, technology and resources.
WSP’s program management contract for the Harris County Recovery and Resiliency Department helps to improve drainage and infrastructure to minimize flooding for residents within Harris County. On METRONext, a transit program that will transform transit operations in Houston, WSP serves as the general planning consultant for over 500 miles of travel improvements that aims to remove more cars from roadways and provide more multi-modal options to move around the region.
“There is often a disconnect between what we call “inner loopers” and everyone else in Greater Houston. The more we can break down barriers and see the needs of everyone and work to deliver solutions that benefit everyone, then we can truly realize what is best for Houston. We are on the cusp of greatness and have an opportunity to grow by leaps and bounds, but we have to all work together for that common goal to get there,” Caughorn explains.
Locally, Caughorn has been involved with the ACEC Houston Small Business Committee that has given him an understanding of how larger companies can mentor smaller and mid-sized businesses to grow and deliver great work for clients. As a mobility partner for the Transportation Advocacy Group – Houston Region, Caughorn advocates for smart, mobility and transportation infrastructure that prioritizes the region’s quality of life and connectivity.
Left to right: Atri Sen (Texas Water Leader, WSP), James Caughorn, Ujari Mohite (Chief Transit Oriented Development Program Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County), Mayor Sylvester Turner, Casey Carlton (Texas Advisory Leader, WSP), Sina Raouf (Senior Transportation Planner, WSP).
Check out what else WSP is doing to improve Texas communities.