Leslie Richards to Step Down as SEPTA GM & CEO

PHILADELPHIA (October 24, 2024) - Leslie Richards, who has led SEPTA through one of the most challenging periods in the transit agency's history, announced today that she will step down as General Manager and CEO effective on November 29th.

During her five-year tenure, Richards has stewarded SEPTA's continuing recovery from the COVID pandemic and its dramatic impact on the agency's ridership and finances, while also overseeing a redesign of SEPTA's bus network, introducing the SEPTA Key Advantage system, and working to secure additional public funding for transit amidst the reality of a $240 million projected FY2025 operating deficit.

"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.

"I look forward to expanding my role as a Professor of Practice in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design and pursuing other opportunities to serve the community," Richards said.

"Leslie has been a dedicated public servant for nearly 20 years, and at SEPTA she has been a true champion for public transit and for our region as a whole," said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence. "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 indicated that SEPTA intends to conduct a nationwide search for Richards' successor, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The Board also announced that Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer will serve as Interim General Manager until a permanent successor is chosen.

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