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Honoring and recognizing Jeffrey D. Knueppel on the occasion of his retirement as the tenth general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
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WHEREAS, Jeffrey D. Knueppel is a registered professional engineer, with an advanced degree in civil engineering, and has served as an employee of the Southeastern Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for 31 years. During his tenure, he progressed through a series of leadership positions before being named SEPTA's tenth general manager in 2015; and
WHEREAS, In addition to overseeing 9,500 SEPTA employees, Mr. Knueppel has focused on strategic management of capital resources. After the passage of Pennsylvania Act 89 in 2013, he launched the ambitious Rebuilding the System Program, a comprehensive capital investment strategy to address the maintenance, repair, and upgrade needs of SEPTA's assets; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Knueppel has also made safety a focus and actively solicited participation by customers and employees. Notably, under his leadership SEPTA implemented the federal Positive Train Control mandate ahead of deadline. SEPTA was recognized this year for the success of that implementation with an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Knueppel has also stewarded the sustainability program at SEPTA. That program includes conversion of the bus fleet to hybrid and fully electric vehicles; stormwater management installations; solar panel installations; and energy-saving infrastructure upgrades. SEPTA also has entered into a long-term agreement to purchase a fifth of its electricity from dedicated solar farms, and will become the first major transportation agency to use solar technology to reinforce power for its commuter-rail signal system; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Knueppel has also focused on building bridges between management and employees. He has signaled that focus through the GM Employee Shadowing Program, which has allowed him to engage with frontline employees ...
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