Leslie Richards

Leslie Richards (born April 3, 1967) is the former general manager of SEPTA, the public transportation agency serving the Philadelphia area.^[1] She previously served as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from 2015 to 2019 under Governor Tom Wolf.^[2]

Leslie S. Richards
General Manager of SEPTA
In office January 1, 2020 (2020-01-01) – November 29, 2024 (2024-11-29)
Preceded by	Jeffrey Knueppel
Succeeded by	Scott Sauer (Acting)
Secretary of Transportation of Pennsylvania
In office May 11, 2015 (2015-05-11) – December 31, 2019 (2019-12-31)
Governor	Tom Wolf
Preceded by	Barry Schoch
Succeeded by	Yassmin Gramian
Member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
In office January 3, 2012 – January 2015 Served with Josh Shapiro, Bruce Castor
Preceded by	Jim Matthews
Succeeded by	Val Arkoosh
Personal details
Born	(1967-04-03) April 3, 1967 (age 57)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ira Richards
Residence	Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Brown University University of Pennsylvania

Personal life and education

Richards earned a bachelor's degree in economics and urban studies from Brown University, and a master's degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She has three children with her husband, Ira: Rebecca, Benjamin, and Sophie.^[3]

Career

Richards was elected to the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors in 2007, and became chairwoman of the board in 2008.^[4]

Richards was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011. Her election, along with that of fellow Democrat Josh Shapiro, marked the first time in over a century that Democrats controlled the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.^[5] Richards served as Montgomery County's representative on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.^[6] Richards also serves on the board of SEPTA.^[7]

Pennsylvania political operatives had mentioned Richards as a potential Congressional candidate in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district.^[8] Richards declined to run for the seat after incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach retired in 2014.^[9]

In 2015, following the election of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, Richards was nominated to serve as Secretary of Transportation of Pennsylvania. She was subsequently confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate in May 2015.^[2]

In 2017, Richards was appointed the first female chair of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as well as the Public Private Partnership (P3) Board.^[10]

On November 21, 2019, Richards was named as SEPTA's new general manager, replacing Jeff Knueppel in January 2020.^[1]

On October 25, 2024, Richards announced she would be stepping down from her position as SEPTA’s general manager & CEO on November 29, 2024.^[11] She then joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design as Professor of Practice.^[12] Richards was also to start a role at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in January 2025.^[13]

Awards

Award	Organization	Year
Urbanist Changemaker of the Year	5th Square	2022
International Woman of the Year	Women's Transportation Seminar	2018
Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation	Conference of Minority Transportation Officials	2018
Above and Beyond Distinguished Service Award	City and State PA	2018
Service to Humanity	March of Dimes of Southeastern Pennsylvania	2018
Female Innovator of the Year	The Stevie Awards	2017
Female Executive of the Year	The Stevie Awards	2017
Women of Distinction	Philadelphia Business Journal	2017

References

1. "PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards to lead SEPTA". WHYY. November 21, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
2. Field, Nick (14 May 2015). "PA-Gov: Wolf Signs First Bills, Nine Cabinet Members are Approved". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
3. "Leslie S. Richards, Vice Chair". Montgomery County. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
4. Finarelli, Linda (4 February 2011). "Whitemarsh Supervisor Leslie Richards runs for county commissioner". Montgomery Media. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
5. Simmoneau, Ben (3 January 2012). "Democrats Take Control Of Montgomery County For First Time In A Century". CBS. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
6. Powell, David (20 January 2012). "Leslie Richards Selected for DVRPC". Bryn Mawr Patch. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
7. "SEPTA Board Member Named 'Woman Of The Year' By Local Organization". SEPTA. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
8. Cahn, Emily (30 January 2014). "In Pa., House Democrats Are Really Ready for Hillary". Roll Call. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
9. "Leslie Richards won't run for Gerlach seat". Philly.com. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
10. "PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards Named First Female PA Turnpike Chair". PA Turnpike. July 18, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
11. "Leslie Richards to Step Down as SEPTA GM & CEO – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority". wwww.septa.org. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
12. "Leslie Richards". University of Pennsylviania Weitzman School of Design. February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
13. DeNardo, Mike (November 21, 2024). "SEPTA's outgoing general manager says big-picture projects are 'laying a solid foundation' for the years to come". KYW Newsradio. Retrieved February 13, 2025.

External links

• PennDOT Biography
• Twitter account
• SEPTA Leadership

Political offices
Preceded by Jim Matthews	Member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners 2012–2015 Served alongside: Josh Shapiro, Bruce Castor	Succeeded by Valerie Arkoosh