The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is one of the largest transit systems in the United States, serving five counties in the Greater Philadelphia area and connecting to transit systems in Delaware and New Jersey. Its services include regional rail, buses, trolleys, subway and a high-speed line to western suburbs.
SEPTA, created by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1963, began operations in 1964. Many of its services and facilities date back further — as far as the early 20th century — and became part of SEPTA through other transportation companies and organizations absorbed during the authority’s first decades.
A general manager oversees day-to-day operations. SEPTA is governed by a 15-member board whose members are appointed by city, county and state officials.
About Leslie S. Richards, CEO and General Manager
Former PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards joined SEPTA as the CEO and general manager in January 2020 following the retirement of General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel.
The Montgomery County resident previously served on the SEPTA board.
She has extensive leadership experience in the strategic planning and management of transportation projects both in her private-sector work in the planning and engineering fields over the past two decades, as well as in her work in state and local government.
As PennDOT Secretary, Ms. Richards instituted new policies based on sustainable infrastructure investments and innovation. She launched the Transportation Investment Plan, a metric-driven strategic investment approach for the 12-Year Capital Program.
She also started a new initiative called PennDOT Connects for the planning and delivery of capital and maintenance projects. This new policy enhances PennDOT’s collaboration with local governments, and ensures the department’s investments consider the mobility needs of communities in project design.
Ms. Richards is a graduate of Brown University, where she concentrated in economics and urban studies. She received a master’s of regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
SEPTA’s Future
SEPTA continues to work toward improvements to services and facilities, investments in sustainability and accessibility, and service extensions to new destinations.
Current projects and plans include:
- Bus Revolution, a comprehensive bus network redesign
- King of Prussia Rail Project
- 30th Street Station Design Project
- West Chester Line Feasibility Study (PDF)
- Broad Street Line Extension Study (PDF)
- Susquehanna-Dauphin Station Improvements (PDF) and Accessibility Improvements (Word)
Visit SEPTA’s planning site for reports and information on projects and goals.