Scott Sauer, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) interim general manager, began his new role on Dec. 2.
Former General Manager Leslie S. Richards left the agency at the end of November. Sauer will serve as interim general manager while the SEPTA board of directors considers a permanent replacement.
“I am honored to be entrusted with the stewardship of a transit system that is absolutely essential to the region’s success,” Sauer said. “My priority will be to commit this organization to a back-to-basics philosophy emphasizing the fundamentals that keep Greater Philadelphia moving each day: safety, customer service, and reliability.”
Sauer began working for SEPTA in 1990 as a surface train operator. He worked his way up to management and became assistant general manager of system safety in 2013, assistant general manager of operations in 2017 and chief operating officer in 2022.
As chief operating officer, Sauer manages the agency’s $2.5 billion annual budget. Budget items include station upgrades to achieve full accessibility, infrastructure improvements, and projects such as rail fleet replacements.
In addition, Sauer serves on multiple industry boards of directors and committees. He also teaches transit rail incident investigation for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Institute Associate Staff Program.