The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a $27.8-million grant to State of Maryland for "preconstruction and planning costs for the potential development of a magnetic levitation (maglev) train between Washington, DC and Baltimore," according to a FRA press release.
Maglev trains use magnets to suspend a train above a rail system. With very low levels of friction, the trains are capable of traveling speeds in excess of 300 mph, approaching 400 mph. When fully operational, the train should be to make the trip between Washington D.C. and Baltimore in just 15 minutes.
This is only the first step in the full route, proposed by the private organization The Northeast Magelv (TNEM).
The group, which is leading the project, aims to someday extend the line from D.C. to New York City. And it estimates the trip between the two cities -- with stops at Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia -- taking less than an hour.
The group's website underscores time-savings of the N.Y.C. to D.C. maglev by asking, "What would you do with an extra 100 minutes?"
Don't get too excited, intercity commuters. The money is set aside to "evaluate the viability of this maglev project" while investigating safety, environmental impact, and future viability in a rapidly changing mobility market. The completed project is estimated to cost $10 billion, so the investment represents a mere fraction of the necessary funds.
Nevetheless, this initial investment is a huge step for the future of high-speed rail in the U.S. And it isn't the only cash promise involved. In 2005, Congress authorized $90 million for maglev transportation projects. How much of those funds will be allocated toward the proposed northeastern maglev is still unclear.