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

The Baltimore Sun profiles William Mackey Jr., former planning director for the City of South Miami and the new project manager for the U.S. 40 project in Maryland, who used the opportunity to return to his planning roots.

1 minute read

August 25, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

By Connie Chung

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."

Thanks to Connie Chung

FULL STORY: A new vision of a better U.S. 40

Friday, August 19, 2005 in The Baltimore Sun

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