SEPTA CEO Leslie Richards Steps Down Amid Challenges

SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards announced she will step down on November 29, bringing her five-year tenure leading the transit agency to an end. During her leadership, Richards guided SEPTA through recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, redesigned the bus network, and introduced the SEPTA Key Advantage System. She also faced challenges such as a significant budget deficit and worked to secure additional public funding. Richards plans to expand her role as a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design and pursue other community-serving opportunities. SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence praised her dedication and announced a nationwide search for her successor, with Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer serving as interim general manager. Richards expressed pride in leading SEPTA's 9,500 employees, emphasizing collegiality and dedication to efficiency and equity.