In an era where cities grow faster than they can adapt, urban planner Harsheeta Gupta has been devoted to shaping the future of urban mobility. As a Senior Consultant at WSP USA, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms known for shaping sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure, Gupta represents a new generation of planners redefining how transportation systems serve people. Her work, spanning from the rehabilitation of New York’s Grand Central Terminal to real-time data innovations across Baltimore’s bus network, reflects a practice grounded equally in technical rigor and human-centered design. Born and raised in India, educated in the United States, and certified by leading professional institutions, Gupta’s trajectory reflects an unwavering belief that public transit can be a vehicle for dignity, sustainability, and social equity. With her data-driven creativity and people-first approach, she is helping cities move toward a more accessible and resilient future. In this interview, Gupta shares insights into her approach to urban mobility, her work with major transit systems, and her vision for cities that serve everyone.
Martha Gutierrez: Harsheeta, you were born in India, one of the world’s most organically and chaotic evolving urban landscapes. How has growing up in that environment shaped your perspective and career as an urbanist and transportation planner?
Harsheeta Gupta: The daily rhythm of Indian cities gave me a front-row seat to the realities of urban life: dense neighborhoods, bustling streets, and public spaces that feel alive and deeply human. When I later traveled to Europe, I saw another kind of order, one where design, mobility, and infrastructure work seamlessly together. That contrast sparked something in me. I realized that India, and cities everywhere, deserve the same level of thoughtful design and efficient mobility.
My education at CEPT University, one of India’s premier institutions for architecture and planning, gave me the foundation to pursue this calling seriously. It was there that I learned to see urban design as a language, one that can express equity, connection, and sustainability all at once.
MG: When did you decide that a career in transportation and urban planning was your calling?
HG: The realization unfolded gradually. I understood that transportation isn’t just about moving people, it shapes how cities breathe and grow. It determines opportunity, access, and quality of life. This understanding led me to move to the United States to pursue a Master’s in City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University, where I focused on transportation systems and explored how data and design can transform them.
Later, I pursued a Master of Science in Project Management at Harrisburg University, because great ideas only create impact when they are managed with precision and clarity.
MG: You’ve worked on a number of major projects in the U.S. What fuels your creativity and sense of purpose in such a complex field?
HG: What keeps me inspired is knowing that my work directly improves the daily experience of thousands of transit riders. Every improvement, no matter how small, creates a ripple of dignity, accessibility, and environmental benefit. My creativity is rooted in empathy: imagining how a rider feels when a bus arrives on time, or when service alerts are clear and easy to understand. That’s where human-centered design meets infrastructure.
At WSP USA, where I currently serve as Senior Consultant in National Transit & Rail in Critical & Emerging Technology, I lead projects that combine technical innovation with this human touch. I’m embedded within the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) as a Program Manager in the Office of Customer Experience, and our mission is simple but profound: to make public transit more reliable, intuitive, and inclusive.
MG: Tell us a bit about your creative process. How do your ideas become reality?
HG: I start with the rider’s perspective, what are they seeing, feeling, and needing? From there, I translate that experience into systems and tools. For example, I helped develop MTA’s first Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan, uniting cross-departmental efforts under one rider-first vision. I also spearheaded the Onboard App Pilot, which equips bus operators with real-time performance data to reduce early departures and improve headways.
These aren’t abstract innovations; they change people’s daily routines. I’ve also led the rollout of Infotainment Screens across more than 500 buses, enhancing wayfinding and accessibility. Alongside that, I directed the Bus Stop QR Code Pilot, giving riders real-time arrival information without needing an app, and redesigned system-wide service alerts to make communication clearer and more trustworthy.
Each of these initiatives represents not just technology, but empathy translated into function.
MG: Your work often bridges infrastructure, design, and sustainability. What larger message or mission drives you?
HG: My mission is to make mobility equitable, sustainable, and empowering. Transit is about trust, it’s a public promise that everyone, regardless of income or ability, can move through the city with confidence. I want to build systems that are efficient but also kind: systems that reduce environmental impact while increasing access and safety.
That’s why I pursued Envision Sustainability Professional certification from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, and became a Certified Planner (AICP) through the American Institute of Certified Planners. These affiliations, along with my active memberships in the American Planning Association (APA) and Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), keep me aligned with a global network of professionals pushing the boundaries of sustainable mobility.
MG: Looking back, what stands out as a highlight of your career so far?
HG: Working on the Grand Central Terminal Trainshed Rehabilitation remains one of my proudest moments. As part of Radin Consulting’s team for Metro-North Railroad, I helped coordinate utilities for the restoration of one of New York City’s most iconic transit landmarks. The project balanced historic preservation with modern engineering, a challenging but deeply meaningful intersection.
Another highlight was contributing to Newark Penn Station’s modernization for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where I prepared sustainability and environmental analyses for revitalizing this historic hub. These experiences showed me that infrastructure can preserve cultural memory while meeting contemporary needs.
MG: And currently. What’s keeping you most excited?
HG: I’m leading an initiative that uses real-time data to improve operational awareness for bus operators. We’re implementing onboard technologies that help drivers manage schedules dynamically and respond to conditions in real time. This initiative will enhance on-time performance and service reliability, directly improving how people experience public transit every day. It’s both technologically innovative and socially impactful, exactly the kind of work I want to be doing.
MG: What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career, and how did you overcome them?
HG: The biggest challenge is the speed at which the field evolves. Between policy, technology, and urban growth, there’s always something new to master. Early in my career, that constant learning curve was daunting. Over time, I’ve learned to embrace it, to see each unfamiliar concept as an opportunity to grow. Surrounding myself with mentors, staying curious, and never hesitating to ask questions have been crucial. That mindset has turned what once felt like a challenge into one of the most rewarding aspects of my profession.
MG: You’ve also held teaching roles. How has that shaped your perspective?
HG: Teaching Graphical Communication for Planners at Rutgers University has been incredibly enriching. It reminded me that clarity is as important as creativity. When you teach, you learn to communicate complex systems simply, and that skill carries directly into project management and public engagement.
MG: Finally, what advice would you offer to young professionals entering your field?
HG: Lead with empathy. Always remember that behind every dataset, every GIS layer, every project plan, there are people, families, workers, students, whose daily lives depend on the systems you’re designing. Stay curious, collaborate widely, and don’t shy away from uncertainty. The best innovations often emerge from undefined spaces. Above all, stay rooted in purpose: urban planning isn’t just about cities, it’s about creating a fairer, more connected world.
Martha Gutierrez. Interview for Haute & Her
