Another morning train from Richmond to DC: This week, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine announced the addition of another roundtrip train from Richmond to Washington, one of the two first trains funded by the Commonwealth. This will be in addition to the seven roundtrips currently made every weekday. Among the bright notes, this will provide VRE passengers with one more option in the morning and evening rushes. The lone disappointment, however, is that it seems the trains will start and terminate at Richmond’s suburban Staples Mill Road station, bypassing the restored and historic downtown station. (Allan, Gavin B)

What isn’t a war on drivers?: Ticket illegal parking? That’s a war on drivers, says the Post. Don’t ticket illegal parking? That’s a war on drivers too, says the same publication. In the first case, the article complained of a $50 ticket for not moving a car in time for rush hour. In the second, Dr. Gridlock laments “the city’s inability to enforce no parking rules at rush hour.” (Ben R)

Proof of a “tipping point”: Urban interstate vehicle-miles travelled in 2008 declined about 3% from the previous year. But congestion dropped 30%. The recession has given analysts unexpected data to confirm the traffic “tipping point” theory, which provides that the difference between a free-flowing road and one in gridlock might only be a small number of additional cars, but which push the road past its capacity, causing a sudden “crash” in throughput. (JTS)

D.C. to reduce Rock Creek pollution: The D.C. Department of the Environment has secured an $800,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to cut down on Rock Creek pollution by reducing stormwater runoff. The department will install green roofs, vegetation and porous pavement to absorb stormwater at the source. (WBJ, Gavin B)

DDOT wants to hear from you: DDOT is soliciting creative ideas to spend a couple million dollars on transportation projects, in the engineer-named “Transportation Enhancement Program”. “Each application for a transportation enhancement project must (1) relate to surface transportation and (2) meet at least one of twelve eligible activities geared towards bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic highway programs, historic preservation, railway corridor improvements as well as rights-of-way acquisitions.” (Topher M, Mike Silverstein)

Tysons shuttles won’t be ready for Metro: In the face of a lack of funding, Fairfax officials are scaling back expectations that a fully functional shuttle system will be in place at the time the Silver Line stations open in Tysons Corner. Stating that “the redevelopment of Tysons Corner is a long-range plan,” Fairfax County Chair Sharon Bulova hopes to have a smaller bus network to serve the stations in the short term. (Examiner, Gavin B)

More interviews with the candidates for VA 47: On the heels of Michael Perkins’ reviews of candidates for Virginia’s 47th District race, Steve Thurston has posted transcripts of additional interviews for the four candidates: Miles Grant, Patrick Hope, Alan Howze, and Adres Tobar.

And … Arlington County has funded three new ART bus routes, (update: two of which go) to Shirlington, two of which replace Metrobus cuts. (CommuterPage, Gavin B) … DDOT completes first phase of streetscape work at Eastern Market, with attractive pavers.