Leadership

Leslie S. Richards, CEO and General Manager

Leslie S. Richards is the CEO and 11th General Manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the sixth largest public transportation agency in the U.S. with a budget of more than $2 billion and a vast network of 9,500 employees that enable the five million residents of the Greater Philadelphia region to connect to each other. SEPTA operates across six transportation modes and has 2,800 vehicles in service, 285 subway and rail stations, 13,000 bus and trolley stops, and 150 routes.

Prior to joining SEPTA, Richards was the first woman secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), one of the largest and most innovative transportation agencies in the U.S. Richards left a lasting mark on the department by creating strategic solutions for the long-term success of Pennsylvania’s transportation needs through innovative, collaborative programs such as PennDOT Connects.

A staunch advocate for women and diversity in transportation and government, Richards has been recognized for her leadership in the industry and commitment to public service. Prior to her public service, she worked in the private sector as a senior project manager for environmental and civil engineering firms. 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. She lives with her husband in Philadelphia.

SEPTA Board

A 15-member board runs SEPTA. City, county, and state officials choose the members.

Meetings

See the schedule of board meetings

SEPTA Board meetings are at 3 pm the fourth Thursday of each month, except in November and December, when the meetings are the third Thursday. The August meeting is subject to cancellation. 

To attend, pre-register. Anyone who wishes to speak at the meeting must pre-register by 9 am the day of the scheduled meeting. The registration and meeting URLs and other information for attending is provided with the individual meeting listing on the meetings calendar.

To comment on meetings, call 215-580-7211 or email comments to BoardSecretary@septa.org.