SEPTA CEO & General Manager Leaving Next Month

October 24, 2024

SEPTA GM Leslie Richards speaking. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards announced Thursday that she will step down from her position effective November 29

Richards has led the transit agency through a tumultuous period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and substantial operational challenges.

Richards, who previously served as secretary of PennDOT and as a Montgomery County commissioner, has been at the helm of SEPTA for five years.

Richards tenure saw the transit agency navigate the pandemic’s significant impact on ridership and finances, the implementation of the SEPTA Key Advantage system, and a comprehensive redesign of its bus network. It also was marked by staffing problems and crime, which is reported to be decreasing.

“It has been an honor to lead SEPTA, and especially to lead our 9,500 employees, each of whom brings incredible expertise, dedication and heart to serving our community,” Richards said. “I’m proud to have led a workplace known for its collegiality, dedication to efficiency and equity. Working together, we have positioned SEPTA for a bright future, increasing frequent mobility and access to opportunities for our region.

Looking forward, Richards plans to expand her role as a professor of practice in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. She also aims to explore other opportunities.

Kenneth Lawrence, SEPTA Board Chair and a Montgomery County commissioner, praised Richards for her nearly two decades of public service.

“She faced an extraordinary set of challenges over the last five years, and we deeply appreciate her service to the cause of public transit. We wish her well in her future endeavors,” Lawrence said.

The SEPTA board plans to conduct a nationwide search for Richards’ successor, with SEPTA’s Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer set to serve as interim general manager.

Richards is set to leave the agency a little more than a year after she received a pay bump to $425,000 annually.

The SEPTA leader is departing as funding challenges could cause potential service cuts and fare increases in the coming months.

SEPTA, one of the largest transit systems in the U.S., operates buses, subways, regional rail, trolleys, light rail, and share-ride services across the Philadelphia region. Its service extends into parts of New Jersey and Delaware.

The system is funded through various sources, including county, state, and federal funds, fares, and advertising.