Photo by Virginia Department of… on Flickr.

HOT Lanes open on I-95

HOT lanes opened from Stafford to the Beltway today. They will be free until the tolling equipment is operating later in December. The 29-mile project cost $1 billion and the toll for cars with fewer than 3 passengers should be 20-80¢ per mile. (Post, WTOP)  

Virginia studying I-66 HOT lanes

VDOT may be turning I-66 to HOT lanes inside the Beltway. It’s unclear whether that would require widening the road, something Arlington opposes, or how transit would factor in. (ArlNow, Post)  

When to hold the primary?

The DC Council is debating when to hold the 2016 primary election. April was too early, but will September be too late? Or should there even be a primary at all? (Post, RPUS)  

Hogan still wants to spend less

Expressing loyalty to the rural Maryland voters who elected him, Larry Hogan reaffirmed he would cut spending on education, healthcare, and transit to cut taxes. How will this impact poorer students? (Post)  

Learning about gentrification and its effects

One group of high school students speak with residents of DC’s Barry Farm neighborhood to understand and help them act on coming changes. Meanwhile life in already-gentrified neighborhoods like H Street can be difficult as police target long term residents. (DCist, HillNow)  

Why CaBi’s better than CiBi

New York’s Comptroller found shoddy maintenance practices at Citibike. One reason: money; it’s had to pay for itself since the start, in comparison to Capital Bikeshare which local governments support. (Capital, Gizmodo)  

And…

Should Montgomery County start the Silver Spring transit center over to create something more architecturally and commercially significant? (RPUS) … A new elevator cable will enable mile-high buildings. (The Guardian) … Similar to parking needs, planners often overestimate auto traffic new buildings generate. (Streetsblog)