Chrystalle Cooper, Shakirah Smith and MaryAnn Tierney - described as the "SEPTA trifecta" - have spent years planning how to move large crowds across the city during FIFA matches and other major events tied to America's 250th anniversary.
Cooper, SEPTA's chief rail transportation officer, oversees ground operations, including the people who run trains and manage station activity. She said the team's collaboration stands out in a field traditionally dominated by men.
"I love it! Transportation is normally more dominated with men, but we have a good team of women. We are working together; we gel very well," Cooper said.
Planning has included extensive preparation for potential problems.
"We have practiced, we've done exercises and drills just to sort of put a plan out what could go wrong and how we would respond," she said.
Much of the focus has been on the expected surge in riders and how to move them efficiently through the system.
Tierney, SEPTA's chief officer for the control center, is responsible for day-to-day operations as well as emergency response coordination. She said planning for large-scale events requires constant vigilance.
"I feel like we have done a lot to get ready, and we have contingencies in place. I'll never feel ready enough. I don't want us to be complacent," Tierney said.
That preparation includes coordination with agencies across the region.
"It is about coordinating with all of the departments at SEPTA, but also working with our external partners like the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, police department, fire department, PennDOT," she said.
Smith, SEPTA's program manager of special events, said the system's regular riders remain a top priority even as the agency prepares for major international crowds.
"Number one, thinking about our everyday passengers making sure they can get to work, to school, their doctors' appointments," Smith said.
With the events approaching, the trio says their years of preparation are about to be tested. They point to past large-scale events as experience but note that the World Cup presents a different challenge.
"We have never hosted a World Cup before. We did the papal visit, we did the DNC, but this is more of a marathon for us, so we made sure we left no stone unturned when planning," Smith said.
Together, the three leaders say their message is clear: SEPTA is ready to handle the influx of visitors while continuing to serve the region's daily riders.