A Visionary Planner Takes On Howard County's U.S. 40 Project

U.S. 40 project in Ellicott City, MD entails the implementation of improvements and other economic development initiatives for a 7 mile stretch. William Mackey Jr., the new project manager, who has gone from studying architecture to studying and practicing planning, to studying at a seminary, is happy to return to planning and apply his past experiences to help create a vision for the project.
Some of the challenges that Mackey faces with the U.S. 40 project include addressing "traffic congestion, sprawling auto dealerships and huge shopping centers set well off the road, with large parking lots in between and little, if any, landscaping." On planning Mackey reflects: "Planning is basically creating a physical setting where community life can happen. I think everybody has a part to play in these things. There's many, many roles in creating a community."