Welcome Jeff Aken!

We’re excited to introduce you all to our newest staff member, Jeff Aken, who’s been hired as Cascade’s new principal planner.

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Jeff holds a masters in urban planning from the University of Washington and prior to joining Cascade, he was a program manager at Forterra. He also served as program coordinator at the College of Forest Resources at the UW.

In his past work, Jeff focused on working with planning staff from communities around the Puget sound to advance policies and plans that created great communities. This work included passing Complete Streets ordinances in Edmonds and Ocean Shores; and advancing policies that will transform Central Issaquah from mostly parking lots to a walkable, bikeable series of neighborhoods with jobs, housing and convenient connections to places people needed to go.

“As a planner, I believe it’s my job to advance policies, plans and projects that create better communities for everyone. In my experience the most livable neighborhoods are those that are comfortable for walking and biking,” said Jeff. “I was excited to come to Cascade and continue to push for the infrastructure that makes cycling safe, comfortable, useful and interesting for all ages and abilities. Cascade combines advocacy, education and recreation in a way that is powerful.”

Jeff said his past experience is a good fit for Cascade because he believes that in order to reach cyclists that are “interested but concerned” it is more than having the right answers about cycling infrastructure, it will take work to educate business owners, neighbors and other the value of these investments and the benefits they bring to everyone in the community.

Looking ahead, Jeff said he’s excited to be working on the Seattle Bike Master Plan Update as well as work outside of the city of Seattle.

“I’m excited about the Seattle Bike Master Plan, it’s an opportunity to advance a compelling vision and the concrete steps that make cycling an integral part of getting where you need to go in Seattle. It provides an opportunity for Cascade members to comment and advocate for improvements in their neighborhoods.”

“I’m also really excited about the work in South Snohomish County,” added Jeff. “Some bicycle infrastructure exists, but there are great opportunities to make it easier to use, improve connections and advance streets that work for all users, not just cars.”

Originally from Colorado, Jeff has lived in the northwest since he was a teenager, and loves the incredible access to mountains in the Puget Sound.

“There are not too many places where you can Nordic ski after work or take the bus to go mountain biking.”

A life-long cyclist, Jeff said he’s “a bike racer, commuter, advocate, recreational rider and a father teaching his three-year old son to ride.”

“[Bicycling] is my time to think, my exercise and the best way to take in the landscape,” he said.

Welcome Jeff!