Leslie Richards to Head DVRPC

from the inbox:

Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie S. Richards has been elected to a one-year term as chair of the board of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).  Richards, who had been vice chair of DVRPC and is also vice chair of the county commissioners, is the just the third woman and the second Montgomery Count representative to serve as chair of the regional planning organization.
                Before becoming a county commissioner, Richards worked in the planning and engineering fields for the two decades. She worked as a senior project manager at a woman-owned civil engineering firm, and is experienced with managing a wide range of infrastructure projects such as bridge rehabilitation, road repairs, street scape improvements, trail and park development, environmental assessments, and feasibility studies.


                In addition to her duties as county commissioner and with DVRPC, Richards is chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections and a member of the SEPTA board of directors.

                The DVRPC board is an 18-member body having the authority and responsibility to make decisions affecting the entire organization as well as the nine-county region.  In its capacity as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, the board establishes regional transportation policies, determines allocation of available transportation funds and prioritizes transportation projects for the region. In addition to transportation planning for highways, transit, airports and freight, the agency develops plans and policies for other regional physical planning elements such as land use, air quality, housing, water supply and water quality.
                DVRPC is dedicated to uniting the region's elected officials, planning professionals and the public with the common vision of making a great region even greater. Shaping the way we live, work and play, DVRPC builds consensus on improving transportation, promoting smart growth, protecting the environment, and enhancing the economy. DVRPC serves a diverse region of nine counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey.