Montgomery Council President Roger Berliner [“Pennies form heaven won’t solve I-270,” Oct. 10] makes some reasonable points regarding traffic options on I-270 but misses the most obvious one regarding how we hold claim for the “country’s worst traffic congestion” and what continues to worsen the already nightmarish situation. That is simply put, county government’s endless development approvals.

Nowhere in his letter is responsibility for Montgomery County government’s role in endlessly approving more-and-more development in the county mentioned. How did we get to this pathetic state, Mr. Council President?

No doubt, some of the development pressure clearly lies outside the county boundaries and the council’s inability to control that. But the council and its related transportation planners need to look in the mirror to see some of the problem.

Mr. Berliner’s letter states the county is “open to creative ideas that will ease congestion and improve our quality of life.”

Why is the most obvious option, slowing or restricting further development and higher density in areas that place further pressure on I-270, like those already approved projects near Rio, the Shady Grove Transfer Station, and Clarksburg, all of which will further burden I-270 with thousands of new commuters, apparently go ignored year-after-year?

The public is baffled. You’re 100 percent correct, Mr. Council President. “Pennies from heaven won’t solve the problem”. Instead of waiting for pennies from heaven, maybe serving the citizens of this county for whom the council was elected to work for with some rationale slower growth plan is a reasonable start!

The county counters with arguments like it requires developers have to pay development fees, widen intersections, etc. to support further development. Open your eyes and take a peek. Whatever your arguments are, they are a disaster.

To add insult to injury, the council gets us into this mess and then says they want even more local taxes (another local gas or sales tax) approved by the state to help reduce the mess! Unbelievable!

Restrict the pace of development until roads can be improved to handle what you’re already dumped on them, much less more, and stop charging us for your mismanagement of the situation!

Robert J. Leffler, Damascus