PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie Richards, who’s led the transit agency through one of its most challenging periods, announced that she will step down from her post next month.
Richards’ last day will be November 29.
Her tenure is marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the world by storm just four months after she took leadership at SEPTA. She navigated the agency through the pandemic, deploying more sanitation and safety measures amid COVID-19’s worst days, and has since dealt with the profound impact of the pandemic on SEPTA’s funding and ridership.
Currently, the transit agency is fighting for more public funding with a projected $240 million deficit in the 2025 fiscal year.
Richards also oversaw a redesign of SEPTA’s bus network, and led the introduction of its Key Advantage system for employers in the region.
She called it an “honor” to lead SEPTA in her five years at the helm.
“I’m proud to have led a workplace known for its collegiality, dedication to efficiency and equity,” Richards said in a release from SEPTA. “Working together, we have positioned SEPTA for a bright future, increasing frequent mobility and access to opportunities for our region.”
She also indicated she will continue to teach and expand her role at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, within its department of city and regional planning.
SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence said Richards “has been a true champion” for public transit and the region as a whole.
“She faced an extraordinary set of challenges over the last five years, and we deeply
appreciate her service to the cause of public transit,” he said.
Lawrence also said SEPTA will initiate a nationwide search for Richards’ successor in the coming weeks. Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer will serve as interim general manager until a successor is chosen.