Adam Pagnucco of Maryland Politics Watch is reporting on an interesting exchange of emails as Sen. Brian Frosh and Montgomery County highway advocate Richard Parsons compete for allies in the county Senate delegattion over the future of the Interstate 270 corridor.

It's worth noting the tone of urgency in Parsons' appeal. He clearly sees a need to get decisions locked in quickly as the process moves toward a Final Environmental Impact Statement. So far, this project has been examined almost entirely within the I-270 corridor -- with little debate over its statewide implications.

Parsons does make one point that rings true. Express bus service is likely a critical part of the solution. But you don't need two new lanes in each direction to make that possible. And if there's anything that would make express bus service popular, it would be the contrast between free-flowing traffic in the bus lanes and congestion in the general purpose lanes.