Dinner links: Around and about the Beltway

Wheaton is smart

Maryland has designated Wheaton one of its “smart sites,” where agencies will work together to cut through red tape and spur revitalization. The article doesn’t say exactly which “unnecessary regulations” staff will try to cut down on, or whether neighbors’ allergy to three-story buildings is one of those. (Gazette, Cavan)

Hyattsville is getting smarter

Hyattsville now has apartments next to the Metro station. This is “the first apartment complex on Metro property in Prince George’s County,” which says a lot about the County’s bad planning in the past. PG has the most underutilized land around its Metro stations. It should aggressively build on this precedent here and at its other stations. (Post, Cavan)

East County loses again

Just Up the Pike notes that the latest version of the region’s TIGER stimulus grant proposal has cut transit on Columbia Pike in eastern Montgomery County. It’s just the latest in a long line of transit disappointments for East County, and particularly disappointing as this corridor is one that would particularly benefit from high-quality transit.

Tuss recovers from EDJS, CCT still ailing

The article starts out, “Drivers on I-270 would welcome any improvement to their congested commute.” I assumed it was going to go on to suggest more lanes. But instead, Adam Tuss’ piece this morning talks about the traffic-relieving Corridor Cities Transitway. While the reporting is good, the news isn’t; the CCT is at least a year behind schedule. (WTOP)

Don’t carpool; you might cost Virginia money

The Washington Times comes out against HOT lanes. It points out that the contract has provisions forcing Virginia to pay extra money to Transurban if they ever widen other nearby roads, or if the amount of carpooling on the Beltway grows beyond a specified level. (Washington Times)

The best car

The top-selling car in 2008 will soon be a part of a Cleveland auto and aviation museum. It not only outsold the Camry and Accord in 2008, it’s also the most environmentally-friendly car ever sold. You might even have owned one a while back. (Fox News, Froggie)  (Tip: Froggie)

Good ol’ WSJ

The Wall Street Journal calls for more road construction, as traffic is keeping automobiles from sustaining cruising speeds. That’s from the July 10th issue in … 1930. (News from 1930, David C)  (Tip: David C)

What do futures traders know about oil?

Many experts are attributing the recent surge in oil prices to speculation.  However, speculators only bid higher prices on futures if they think there’s a reason to.  Do they know something about the fundamental supply and demand that we don’t? (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)