At next week’s Council meeting, the College Park City Council will consider two State bills about the SCMaglev project.
The Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (SCMAGLEV) Project is a proposed Maglev train system between Baltimore City and the District of Columbia, with an intermediate stop at the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. In 2016, MDOT was awarded $27.8 million in federal funding to conduct the required Environmental Impact Statement. The EIS was published last month and January 2022. The environmental impact of the proposed maglev route is of concern to many people, as is the likely cost of the project. Additional information about the project can be found here on the Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project website: https://bwmaglev.info/project-documents/deis
The State bill SB 188 / HB 63 would prohibit the State (and instrumentalities of the State) from using any appropriation, with some exceptions, for a magnetic levitation (maglev) transportation system in the State. Maryland has been interested in evaluating a maglev system since 2001. The General Assembly has restricted funding at various times during this period.
The Council will also consider supporting Letter of Support HB 704 Emergency Bill- Maryland Stop the Maglev Act of 2021.
The City Council plans to discuss the project at a future work session and will consider taking its position on the project.