The author of the project of electric tram system in St. Petersburg was Russian engineer Genrikh Graftio (1869-1949).

He was born on December 26, 1869 in Dinaburg (now Daugavpils, Latvia).

In 1892 Graftio graduated physics-mathematical faculty of Imperial Novorossiya University in Odessa (now National University named after Ilya Mechnikov).

In 1896 he graduated Institute of the Corps of Railroad Engineers (now State Transport University).

During 1896-1900, Graftio researched hydro power plants and electric railways in Europe and United States.

In 1900-1917, he projected and built railways in Russian Empire, drafted projects of electrification of railways in Crimea and South Caucasus.

Also, Graftio did projects of hydro power stations:

• "White Coal" on Podkumok River in Yessentuki (1903, first industrial hydroelectric power station of the Russian Empire);
• hydroelectric power stations on Vuokša River (near 1905) and
• Malaya Imatra River (1905);
• Volkhov hydroelectric plant in Leningrad Region (1911).

The other experts and members of comission for projecting of St. Petersburg electric tram system were Yakov Gakkel, V. Rebikov, A. Smirnov, and others