Today's Read: Our Major Traffic Headache

Settled in from that rugged trip on I-66, or maybe from dealing with a buggy Farecard machine? Time for a coffee break? Here's some reading material from Post transportation stories.

The East-West Divide: The Washington region's main morning commuter headache has evolved during the past two decades into one from east to west. Every weekday morning, more than 104,000 vehicles clog those routes, sending ripples through the region's rush-hour traffic. Stopping them could end the misery of Washington being the nation's second-most congested urban area. (Ashley Halsey III)

Virginia's New Intercity Rail: Virginia launches its first state-funded intercity passenger train Thursday from Lynchburg to Washington, a move that will enhance mass-transit options for Northern Virginia commuters and people across the state. (Jennifer Buske)

Airport Authority Takes Over Dulles Road: Drivers may not have noticed this morning, but the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is managing the construction of the Metrorail extension to Dulles, has taken over operation of the Dulles Toll Road. It is using toll revenue from the highway to help pay for the $5 billion Dulles Rail project. (Sholnn Freeman)

Md. DUI Laws Take Effect: New laws intended to crack down on drunk drivers who cause a quarter of Maryland's traffic fatalities take effect Thursday, to muted applause from those who advocate stronger measures and from lawyers who defend drunk drivers. (Ashley Halsey)

Dr. Gridlock: My turn. See my column from today's Post Extras in which a reader and I discuss where the creators of Metro fell short and what we should be doing to improve the hand we were dealt. (Robert Thomson)