Posts by Tracey Johnstone — Contributor

Tracey Johnstone is a recovering political pollster who is completing a dissertation on Russian economic reform. She is also secretary of the Action Committee for Transit. She has lived in downtown Bethesda since 1996, and previously lived in Toronto, Moscow, and Alexandria (before the Metro).

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  To get Congress’ attention, America says #StandUp4Transportation

  By Abigail Zenner (Editorial Board Alum), Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) April 10, 2015 13

  On Thursday, transportation advocates around America gathered to send a message to Congress: Pass a new surface transportation bill, and fix the nearly-broke highway trust fund. Advocates used the hashtag #StandUp4Transportation to get the message out. All over the US, public officials helped get out the message by riding transit: Took the R train this morning with @deBlasioNYC…  Keep reading…

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  NIH says: Our scientists are too important to pay for parking or take transit

  ParkingBy David Alpert (Founder), Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) April 10, 2015 117

  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) wants to expand at its Bethesda campus, but despite being on top of a Metro station, wants to build a lot more parking. Why is that necessary? NIH thinks its “high-ranking scientists” can’t be asked to pay for parking or ride Metro in greater numbers like “regular people.” Sound unbelievable? Just listen…  Keep reading…

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  London’s conservative mayor tells DC to go all in on transit and bikes

  TransitBy Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) March 10, 2015 38

  Conservative politicians in the US often oppose investing in transit, bikes, and other urban necessities. But not in the UK, where “conservative” doesn’t mean quite the same thing. Recently, London mayor Boris Johnson made the case for better multimodal infrastructure in the US. In a visit to Washington last month, Johnson touted the benefits of spending…  Keep reading…

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  The NIH has more parking than agencies around it, and that makes traffic worse for everyone

  ParkingBy Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) January 15, 2015 47

  The National Institutes of Health doesn’t comply with a federal recommendation for how many parking spaces it should have. Correcting that would probably help alleviate congestion in Bethesda.   Keep reading…

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  How about local celebrity voices for Metro announcements?

  TransitBy Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) March 19, 2014 74

  Good speakers aren’t always good subway operators, and vice versa. In a city where most of the subway stations look alike and a large percentage of riders are tourists, a clear announcement system is key. What if Metro used local celebrities to make train and station announcements? Some Metro drivers mumble incomprehensively, or the poor quality of the sound system muddles…  Keep reading…

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  A Metrobus gap on Wisconsin Avenue makes Georgetown and Bethesda too far apart

  TransitBy Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) February 7, 2014 58

  Between traffic jams, parking problems, and service disruptions on the Red Line, traveling along Wisconsin Avenue can be difficult. Filling the gap in Metrobus service between Bethesda and Friendship Heights could give travelers another alternative.   Keep reading…

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  Shocking rhetoric from John Townsend and AAA

  RoadsBy Dan Malouff (Editorial Board), Ken Archer (Contributor), David Edmondson (Contributor), Ben Ross (Contributor), Dan Reed (Regional Policy Director), Aimee Custis (Editorial Board Alum), Geoff Hatchard (Editorial Board Alum), Rahul Sinha (Elections Committee), Jaime Fearer (Editorial Board Alum), Steven Glazerman (Contributor), Bradley Heard (Contributor), Tracey Johnstone (Contributor), Jereme Altendorf (Guest Contributor), Tim Krepp (Contributor), Jacques Arsenault (Contributor), Steven Yates (Contributor), Brent Bolin (Advocacy Committee), Topher Mathews (Contributor), Sandra Moscoso (Contributor), Abigail Zenner (Editorial Board Alum), Matt Johnson (Editorial Board Alum), Nick Casey (Contributor), John Muller (Contributor), Michael Perkins (Contributor), Joe Weedon (Guest Contributor), Brian McEntee (Contributor), Martin Moulton (Contributor), Canaan Merchant (Elections Committee), Sarah Lewis (Guest Contributor), Sally Hobaugh (Guest Contributor), Ryan Sigworth (Contributor), Darren Buck (Guest Contributor), Mark Jordan (Guest Contributor), Miles Grant (Contributor), Jessica Christy (Contributor), Ben Harris (Guest Contributor), Laura Dallas McSorley (Guest Contributor), Nolan Treadway (Guest Contributor), Stewart Schwartz (Guest Contributor) April 18, 2013 289

  This week’s Washington City Paper cover story quoted AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend calling Greater Greater Washington editor David Alpert “retarded” and a “ninny,” and comparing Greater Greater Washington to the Ku Klux Klan. Many other reporters, people on Twitter, and residents generally have clearly stated in response…  Keep reading…

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  MD toll agency pushes more driving to fill little-used road

  RoadsBy Tracey Johnstone (Contributor) October 17, 2012 65

  At a time when Maryland, the District, and Virginia are trying to coax people to drive less, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA), which oversees toll roads, has embarked on a campaign encouraging people to drive more. Specifically, they want more people to drive the Intercounty Connector (ICC). Maryland is not getting its money’s worth from the $2.5 billion…  Keep reading…