Ben Bakkenta, AICP, is Senior Program Manager for Regional Planning at the Puget Sound Regional Council. Ben has over 20-years of experience in long-range regional transportation and growth management planning. As part of PSRC's senior management team, he oversees initiatives designed to implement the central Puget Sound region's adopted growth and transportation plans through public engagement, research, and collaborative decision making. Current projects include updating the region's long range transportation and growth management plans. Prior to his current role, Ben led the development and successful implementation of the award-winning Growing Transit Communities Strategy, a three-year effort of more than 40 partner organizations funded by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Sustainable Communities Initiative. Ben holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington.