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    1. Rail

    Jeffrey Knueppel Selected as SEPTA General Manager

    Sept. 18, 2015
    Related To: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
    SEPTA
    Under Knueppel’s direction, the SEPTA team successfully completed 32 transit infrastructure improvement projects as part of its $191 million Stimulus program. The SEPTA ARRA Program has been nationally recognized for its efficiency, effectiveness, and innovative program management.
    Under Knueppel’s direction, the SEPTA team successfully completed 32 transit infrastructure improvement projects as part of its $191 million Stimulus program. The SEPTA ARRA Program has been nationally recognized for its efficiency, effectiveness, and innovative program management.

    Pasquale T. Deon, Sr., board chairman of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), announced the selection of Jeffrey D. Knueppel, P.E. as the authority’s next general manager. With this appointment, Knueppel will oversee 9,300 employees and full operation of the sixth largest transportation agency in the country.

    “In a climate of ever increasing responsibilities and funding challenges,” Deon said, “Jeff has consistently demonstrated the requisite temperament, passion, strategic management skills and innovative thinking to successfully assume the duties of general manager.” 

    Prior to his appointment, Knueppel, a 27-year veteran SEPTA employee, served as deputy general manager in charge of two divisions - operations and engineering, maintenance, and construction (EM&C), as well as several staff support departments. He will succeed Joseph M. Casey, CPA, who retires as general manager on Sept. 30.

    Knueppel joined SEPTA in 1988 as an entry level structural engineer where his projects focused on the repair of aging elevated transit structures, bridges and tunnels. He quickly moved up within the organization and after several job advancements was promoted to chief engineer at the age of 36. He was assistant general manager/chief engineer of the EM&C Division, before assuming the responsibility of deputy general manager.

    He plans to continue working with his team to advance the Rebuilding the Future program designed to tackle the backlog of state of good repair, facility improvement, and fleet upgrade projects, made possible by Pennsylvania Act 89 funding, and System Resiliency, an FTA funded program to protect against severe weather related impacts. In the near future, he plans to introduce to the public his goals to make SEPTA the region’s preferred choice for transportation.

    A graduate of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, Knueppel holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is a member of ASCE, AREMA, APTA, COMTO and WTS. Knueppel received the Civil Engineer of the Year Award for 2015 from the American Society of Civil Engineers – Philadelphia section. In 2010, he had the honor of accepting the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) Client of the Year award on behalf of SEPTA and in 2009 he was the recipient of Amtrak’s State Partner Award. He is also Honorary Chair of the March of Dimes annual Transportation, Building & Construction Awards Luncheon in Philadelphia.

    Knueppel, who has three grown sons, resides in Bedminster, Pennsylvania, with his wife Kelly.