Scott A. Sauer in a SEPTA handout photo.
Scott Sauer will keep his $300,879 per year salary from when he was SEPTA’s COO, a spokesperson said
As it grapples with a significant budget deficit and the prospect of massive service cuts, SEPTA’s Board of Directors on Monday unanimously appointed Scott Sauer as the transit agency’s new general manager.
Sauer, who has served as interim general manager since November 2024, received a unanimous vote from the board following a nationwide search.
The new general manager takes the helm at a key moment for SEPTA, which is seeking more state funding to avoid drastic changes to its operations.
The appointment comes just weeks before the board is set to consider a proposed budget on June 26 that includes 45 percent service cuts, major fare increases, workforce reductions, and a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services.
The cuts are being considered to address a $213 million structural budget deficit.
Sauer will keep his $300,879 per year salary from when he was SEPTA’s COO, a spokesperson said.
Kelly Greene, a SEPTA spokesperson, said Sauer did not take a raise when being promoted to the interim general manager job, which is in line with the agency’s freeze on pay for management.
“Scott is focused on getting through the funding crisis,” Greene said.
“Scott has dedicated nearly 35 years to SEPTA, gaining invaluable experience in every aspect of the organization,” said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence Jr., a Montgomery County commissioner. “Over the last six months, Scott has demonstrated his leadership abilities through this funding crisis, and I am confident that he is the best person to guide SEPTA through these challenging times ahead.”
SEPTA, one of the largest transit systems in the U.S., operates buses, subways, regional rail, trolleys, light rail, and share-ride services across the Philadelphia region. Its service extends into parts of New Jersey and Delaware.
Sauer began his career with SEPTA in 1990 as a surface train operator, following in the footsteps of his late father, Robert, who served the Philadelphia Transportation Company and SEPTA for 30 years. He progressed through various roles, including subway/elevated train operator, transportation manager, safety officer, assistant general manager of system safety, assistant general manager of operations, and chief operating officer.
SEPTA officials said Sauer is a nationally recognized expert in transit safety and operations.
In his new role, Sauer will continue to oversee SEPTA’s 9,300 employees and all operations.
Former SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards left the transit agency last November. She earned more than $425,000 annually.
