The Maglev Dream is Officially Dead (Again)
So, the Baltimore-DC maglev train is officially dead. Or, at least, this iteration of it is. The FRA pulled the plug, citing "significant, unresolvable impacts" and, of course, the ever-popular "cost overruns." Color me shocked. Seriously, who didn't see this coming?
For years, we've been hearing about this supposed 300-mph marvel that would whisk you from Baltimore to DC in 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes! Like anyone actually wants to go to DC that fast. And let's be real, the whole thing always reeked of a pipe dream fueled by politicians who got a free trip to Japan to ride the shinkansen and thought, "Hey, we can do that too!"
But here's the kicker: Northeast Maglev, the private company behind this disaster, claims they're still "committed." Committed to what? Throwing good money after bad? Maybe they should commit to building something that, you know, people actually need and that doesn't require bisecting the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. I mean, come on.
Environmental Justice? More Like Environmental Justification
And speaking of needs, let's talk about the "environmental justice concerns." Apparently, nearly 70% of the residents in the "affected environment" were minorities. Shocker. It's always the same story, ain't it? Promise some shiny new tech, then bulldoze through communities that don't have the resources to fight back. But hey, at least now the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit is "elated." Good for them.
The thing that really grinds my gears is the argument that it would only have one stop – at BWI Airport. So, basically, it was a fancy airport shuttle for rich people. How many communities would actually benefit from that? Zero. Zip. Zilch. And they expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly...
And don't even get me started on the cost. $13 billion? For a train that goes really fast between two cities already connected by, oh I don't know, existing trains? Trains that, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are actually getting better. Are we really this desperate for a vanity project?
I wonder, were Governor Moore and Hogan really sold on the idea of boosting the state's economy, or did they just want a free trip to Japan? I mean, I’d go to Japan offcourse. Maybe I'm being too cynical here. Maybe this whole thing was driven by pure, unadulterated good intentions. Nah, who am I kidding?
Maglev: A Technology in Search of a Problem
The FRA's Acting Administrator, Drew Feeley, says this decision "does not preclude the future deployment of maglev technology in the United States." Oh, great. So, we can look forward to another round of this nonsense in a few years? Maybe they'll try to build one between, I don't know, Des Moines and Omaha. Because that's exactly what the heartland needs. According to the Bay Journal, the Feds pull plug on Baltimore-DC maglev train project.
Honestly, the whole maglev obsession feels like a solution in search of a problem. Like those AI-powered juicers that cost $400 and required special juice packs. Remember those? This is the transportation equivalent. Shiny, expensive, and ultimately pointless. Is it cool? Sure. Is it practical? Absolutely not.