SEPTA announced the reappointment of Leslie S. Richards as the agency’s general manager and CEO.

The SEPTA Board and Richards agreed to terms on a four-year contract that runs through January 2027.

“We are thrilled that Leslie will continue to lead SEPTA moving forward,” said Pasquale T. Deon Sr., SEPTA Board chairman. “When Leslie came to SEPTA, she brought not only her expertise in transportation but a vision for where she wanted to lead the Authority. Her productive relationships with our funding partners in Harrisburg, as well as at the local and federal level, have served SEPTA well during what has been a very challenging time. This Board is confident that Leslie will continue to successfully advocate for the needs of SEPTA and the customers we serve.”

Richards' Career at SEPTA

Richards started as SEPTA’s GM/CEO in January 2020 after serving as PennDOT’s first female secretary.

Among her accomplishments at PennDOT was the launch of the Transportation Investment Plan, a metric-driven strategic investment approach for the 12-Year Capital Program.

Just months into her SEPTA tenure, Richards began guiding the agency through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richards, who previously served on the SEPTA Board, has been the driving force behind SEPTA Forward, the agency’s strategic plan – advancing initiatives including Bus Revolution, Trolley Modernization, and Reimagining Regional Rail.

“I am grateful to the Board for its continued support, and I am excited about the opportunities that we have in front of us,” Richards said. “We continue to strive for a better SEPTA, one that our customers can count on to deliver service that is reliable, safe, and secure.”