City, county and national representatives weighed in on the $1 trillion Infrastructure Bill that is currently in front of the Senate, discussing whether the bill as written provides funding for the Maryland Maglev train project.
In a letter to Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin sent on August 5, Greenbelt City Councilmembers wrote that they vehemently oppose the proposed Federal funding of the Maglev Project. The letter asked the senators to, “Please propose new language that denies Federal funding to such ill-conceived projects.”
In a similar letter, also sent on August 5, State Delegate Alonzo Washington said “I am writing to express my strong opposition to the funding specifically included for magnetic levitation trains outlined in the Senate infrastructure legislation. Not only should this language be removed, but there should be provisions included to prevent any federal funding from benefitting the Baltimore Washington Superconducting Magnetic Levitation train, which will have a significant negative impact on our community.”
The Bill Says
The 2,702-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act document mentions Maglev technologies three times.
First, on page 75. The document proposes funding for “Planning and construction of projects that facilitate intermodal connections between emerging transportation technologies, such as magnetic levitation and hyperloop.”
Maglev technology comes up again on page 763, where the bill provides for “Research, development, and testing to advance and facilitate innovative rail projects, including projects using electromagnetic guideways in an enclosure in a very low-pressure environment.”
And then on page 853, the term comes up again as the bill allows the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to “prescribe regulations governing railroad-related noise emission standards for trains operating on the general railroad system of transportation at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour, including noise related to magnetic levitation systems and other new technologies not traditionally associated with railroads.”
Van Hollen Answers
Senator Chris Van Hollen answered Washington’s letter on August 6. After explaining the pieces of the bill that he is proud of, including funding for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, the Baltimore Red Line and money for high-speed internet across the state, Van Hollen writes that “the bipartisan infrastructure bill does not change federal law or eligibility for federal funding for Maglev and does not provide any direct or indirect funding for the Maglev project in Maryland.”
He goes into detail about each point of reference, explaining why the Infrastructure Bill may include maglev technology but does not cover the Maryland project in particular.
Van Hollen closes saying: “I have serious concerns about the ongoing project in Maryland and I continue to press for more information and time for public comment on the project, including by successfully pushing for an extended public comment period on the Environmental Impact Statement.”
Washington Responds
Alonzo Washington responded to the receipt of Van Hollen’s letter, while appreciative of the Senator’s general tone, Washington said, “The language in the bill remains very concerning.”
He pointed out that there are no current maglev trains running in the country and a only a few under consideration. “The open-ended nature of the language remains concerning, and it is my hope that our Congressional delegation will take steps to ensure that Northeast Maglev is explicitly excluded from receiving funding under this legislation.”
To see the complete letters go to: