Get to know Matt Johnson, Metro explainer, map maker, and WhichWMATA quizmaster

If GGWash had a Mt. Rushmore of volunteers, Matt Johnson would be on it. He’s written countless posts about Metro, serves as our comment moderator, has made tons of great maps, and is the whichWMATA quizmaster. Matt recently joined national transit podcaster Jeff Wood on his show, Talking Headways, to talk about what makes him tick.

Greater Greater Washington depends on volunteers to do so much, and Matt has gone way, way above and beyond in his efforts. Matt’s contributions have been instrumental in keeping our site running since his first post in 2008.

If you know Matt, it’s likely as an expert on all things trains. He helped found Nerdtrain, a club of over 20 train lovers who take a long-distance Amtrak ride once per year for the fun of it.

In the podcast, you can hear about where that love comes from, along with which particular rail line offers “the most exhilarating ride in the country.” You’ll also get a list of Matt’s favorite cities, as well as some history on how Matt started blogging and what he’s learned about streetcar systems.

Give it a listen!