About

Who We Are

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) is one of the largest transit systems in the country. We support five counties in the Greater Philadelphia area. We also connect to transit systems in Delaware and New Jersey. Our services include regional rail, buses, trolleys, subways and a high-speed line.

SEPTA moves the Southeastern Pennsylvania region forward by providing safe, reliable and accessible mobility choices for everyone. We support equity and enhance quality of life by connecting people with opportunity, catalyzing the economy and sustaining our environment.

What Guides Us

The SEPTA Spirit


No matter which role our employees play in keeping the region moving forward, six values guide everything we do. We take pride in providing an essential service for millions across the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. We show up to work every day to keep the region moving by living out this spirit.

Our Values


Put Safety First

Be Inclusive

Listen Freely

Aim Higher

Focus on Results

Find Solutions

Our values represent both who we are and who we aspire to be as an organization.

Our Vision


Our vision is comprised of three goals:

  • Develop a proactive organization.
  • Provide an intuitive experience.
  • Deliver a seamless transit network.

We monitor our progress on these goals with a yearly Performance Report.

Our Leadership

A 15-member board runs SEPTA. City, county and state officials choose the members. Scott A. Sauer, our interim General Manager, manages day-to-day operations.

Mr. Sauer began his career with SEPTA in 1990 as a Surface Train Operator, quickly earning cross-qualifications in both light rail and bus operations. A second-generation transit professional, Scott follows in the footsteps of his late father, Robert, who served the Philadelphia Transportation Company and SEPTA for 30 years. Over the years, Sauer progressed through roles as a Subway/Elevated Train Operator, Transportation Manager, and Safety Officer. In 2013, he was appointed Assistant General Manager, System Safety, where he developed and implemented critical safety initiatives, including the System Safety Program Plan, Emergency Management Plan, and Accident & Illness Prevention Plan.

In 2017, Sauer was promoted to Assistant General Manager, Operations, overseeing all operational aspects of SEPTA, including Transportation, Control Center, Vehicle Maintenance, and Station Cleaning. In 2022, Sauer was named Chief Operating Officer, expanding his oversight to include the Engineering, Maintenance and Construction division, Transit Police, and the Capital Programs.

His leadership has guided the organization through significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cybersecurity incidents, civil unrest, and budgetary constraints. Sauer also manages a $2.5 billion annual budget, focusing on transformative projects such as rail fleet replacements, station accessibility upgrades to achieve full accessibility by 2035, and infrastructure improvements to enhance SEPTA’s reliability and state of good repair.

Mr. Sauer is a nationally recognized transit safety and operations expert, serving on multiple industry boards and committees, including two terms with the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS), where he served as Chairman; the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Transit Safety and Security; the Northeast Corridor Safety and Security Committee; and the Board of Directors for Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a national rail safety organization. Since 2011, Scott has also been a faculty member in the USDOT TSI Associate Staff Program, teaching Transit Rail Incident Investigation and mentoring future transit professionals.

Scott holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Protection and Safety Management from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a World Safety Organization Certified Safety and Security Director (WSO-CSSD).

Scott A. Sauer, Interim General Manager and CEO

Our Past, Present, and Future

In 1963, the Pennsylvania legislature formed SEPTA. Operations began in 1964. Many SEPTA services and facilities were part of other transportation groups and date back to the early 1900s.

Learn more about where we’ve been by reviewing our archive of Reports.

Today, SEPTA’s systems serve hundreds of thousands of people every day. Regular expansions and improvements to our network have enabled SEPTA to become an indispensable part of everyday life for those in Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening now by reading about our ongoing Initiatives.

Our future is important to us, as is our past. We work to adapt and improve as an organization. Our goal is to continue offering equal transit opportunities for everyone. We want to make sure our organization and our services help people work and travel.

Take a look at what we’ve planned for our path ahead on SEPTA Forward.