David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington reports that the Montgomery County Council has reached an apparent consensus that a scaled-back plan to widen Interstate 270 between Shady Grove and Frederick is the way to go.

The council seems to like Chairman Phil Andrews plan to build two new reversible toll lanes -- southbound in the morning, northbound in the evening -- to relieve I-270's congestion, Alpert reports.

This is certainly less outrageous than the $4.6 billion plan to add four express toll lanes -- as the county planning board recommended. But it's still an other example of catering to the one-passenger car instead of seeking transit solutions.

What is disturbing about the report is the State Highway Administration announcing plans to build it in 30-40 sections before there has been a proper statewide discusiion of whether to build it and how to pay for it. Baltimore-area lawmakers need to ask questions sooner rather than later -- before their constituents end up paying the bill for a fait accompli.

Here's a counterproposal: A single, reversible lane for express buses only at peak times. (Let passenger vans use the lane to the extent there's extra capacity. Let trucks use it at off-peak hours as a safety measure.) Build it without toll financing when the state has sufficient transportation revenue to pay for it.

The best way to entice people out of cars is to present  them with the sight of buses whizzing along in an uncongested lane while they sit in bumper-to-bumper misery.