Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – It may sound too good to be true, but there are plans in the works to build a high-speed maglev train that can get people between Baltimore and D.C. in 15 minutes.

Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail is looking at three possible mostly underground routes for the maglev train: along Amtrak’s Penn Line Corridor, and the BW parkway either east or west.

“It will be a time certain trip. Rather than sitting in traffic for indeterminate amounts of time and losing your productivity, you’ll be gaining back many many hours of your life,’ said project director David Henley with Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail.

As it works to narrow the route options from three to one, Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail is hosting a series of public meetings, with the last two happening this week.

So far there has been a lot of excitement about the project mixed with many questions and concerns according to Henley.

Some are worried their houses will be taken through eminent domain to build the tracks, but Henley said they should not need to do that because about 70 percent of the tracks would be underground.

There have also been concerns that this project could take money away from other transit projects. Henley said different sources of funding are being pursued, including low-interest loans from Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Federal Railroad Administration.

“We’re issued a low interest loan. We pay it back,” Henley said.

He admitted if more than 70 percent of the tracks need to be built underground, the company may not be able to get enough loan money to pay for the project. In that case, the company may decide to apply for federal loans.

Tuesday’s meeting is from 5-8 p.m. at Laurel High School, and Wednesday’s is at the same time at Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore.

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