Medium - My Reaction to Proposed Superconducting Maglev Between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Op-Ed

By Anthony Brown

Dear Resident,

Earlier this year, the Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA") and the Maryland Department of Transportation ("MDOT") initiated a required review of the Washington to Baltimore Superconducting Magnetic Levitation Train ("Maglev") and its social, economic and environmental impact on communities, which includes routes proposed in Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties. I have heard from many constituents who have voiced serious concerns regarding the proposed alignments, the potential for significant neighborhood disruptions and the lack of tangible benefit to the community. I am dedicated to ensuring that the concerns of the community are addressed.

This is not the first-time Maglev has been proposed in Maryland. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the federal government sought to build high-speed rail corridors around the country and Maryland submitted a proposal for a line between Washington and Baltimore. Concerns about high costs and adverse impacts on local communities caused the General Assembly to deliberate on the state investment and the project did not get off the ground. Nationwide, similar Maglev projects have been slow to gain traction.

As required by the current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, the FRA and MDOT have hosted several public meetings since December 2016 where potential routes have been presented and discussed. Five additional meetings are scheduled during the month of October where the public will have an opportunity to further hear about and present on the alignments. Thereafter, more formal hearings will be held in the spring of 2018 to discuss the draft of the environmental impact statement. Some of these alignments impact our communities and others do not. The process is designed to present to the community all alternatives and through public input and study, unacceptable alternatives are eliminated.

Throughout my time in public office, I have been a proponent of greater investments in our infrastructure network that will reduce congestion, foster economic development, spur job creation and reduce both fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Maglev trains are one option and if deployed along the Northeast Corridor, it must promote economic benefits and long-term growth in any impacted communities, like Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties, as well as minimize disruption and intrusion throughout those neighborhoods.

The idea of bringing an innovative form of transportation to our region is enticing and there is certainly an allure to travel from Washington to New York City in a train moving 300 mph. The reality is that the United States is behind most countries around the world Japan, China, France, Great Britain and Spain that successfully operate high-speed rail networks to the benefit of their communities. Consequently, it makes sense that we should strive to bring such technology to the United States. That said, I believe that we should adopt any such project in a responsible manner that includes a transparent process with sufficient public input. Further, as the representative of Maryland's 4th Congressional district, I will only be able to support this project if it does not disrupt neighborhoods and brings tangible local benefits to our communities.

With other recent transportation investments in our region such as the expansion of the Green and Blue Lines on Metro, the Intercounty Connector, or the light-rail Purple Line active and constructive community involvement has ensured that these projects are better aligned with local interests. While the current Maglev proposal certainly merits apprehension and concern, I am optimistic the future of high-speed rail and transit in our region can align with our community values and interests. You can count on me to stand by you.

Should you have any questions or concerns related to this matter, please contact me by visiting http://anthonybrown.house.gov/contact or call my office at (202) 225--8699.

Sincerely,

Anthony G. Brown

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