The corridor of Route 40 West, known regionally as the Golden Mile, is a vital gateway into the City. With an average daily traffic volume of nearly 50,000 vehicles and approximately 30% of Frederick’s commercially zoned land, the two-mile long corridor is bustling with activity.
In 2010, the City’s Planning Department launched the Golden Mile Small Area Plan initiative to guide future development and redevelopment along the Route 40 corridor. In 2018, this area was designated by the State of Maryland as an Enterprise Zone, further enhancing the incentives to invest in "the Mile."