Train
James Henry Shaw

Hi! I'm James

I'm a railroad operations plangineer passionate about improving rail transportation networks. I have a background in Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, with experience in vehicle engineering, track design and inspection, transportation modeling, consulting services, and with local government.

About Me

I'm a Boston native with a longstanding fascination for urban form and a firm belief in the role transportation systems play in creating strong, equitable, vibrant, and sustainable cities. I have an educational background in both civil engineering and urban planning, complemented by professional experience across a range of transit-related roles. I currently work in HNTB's Rail Operations Modeling & Planning group as a planner, operations engineer, and task manager, where I work with state DOTs, transit agencies, freight railroads, and other stakeholders to advance rail infrastructure improvements.

I am also an avid skier, and work as a seasonal program instructor at Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire. Otherwise, I'm probably playing some transit-adjacent PC game, avoiding progress on an ongoing home design project, or having the craicIrish expression for socializing (I'm also probably planning an upcoming trip to Ireland) with my friends in Camberville and beyond.

Projects

I also spend some of my free time working on side projects (like this website!) - check a few of them out below.

Experience

HNTB Corporation - Rail Operations Engineer

Boston & Chelmsford, MA | Jan. 2025 - Present

  • Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) Modeling
  • Rail Transportation Planning / Preliminary Engineering
  • Railroad Operations Consulting
  • Project Management (Scope Development, Budget Forecasting, & Delivery)

HNTB Corporation - Track Engineering - Intern

Boston & Chelmsford, MA | June 2024 - Jan. 2025

  • Track Design & Inspection
  • Asset Management
  • Construction Phasing

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - Rail Vehicle Engineering - Intern

Boston, MA | 2023

  • Organized truck inspection program on 1500/1600 series Red Line cars
  • Analyzed & Inventoried work history data for 1800 series Red Line cars

City of Boston - Office of Economic Development - Intern

Boston, MA | 2022

  • MIT Jeffrey L. Pressman Award Recipient
  • Assisted in creation of RFPs concerning Downtown Redevelopment and Revitalization
  • Conducted property analysis for potential City acquisitions and development updates
  • Worked alongside City consulting partners in crafting strategy report to boost economic activity

Franconia Notch State Park - Ski Instructor

Franconia, NH | 2018 - Present

  • Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Certified

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA | Class of 2025

S.B., Civil Engineering (1) & Urban Planning (11)

Contact

Interested in transportation, rail operations, urban planning, or one of my other interests? I'm always happy to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from others' experiences. Don't hesitate to reach out or connect with me on LinkedIn.