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Opportunity for Public Comment on MAGLEV Project Now Available

Thursday March 11, 2021

The public is invited to share feedback on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), published by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), to evaluate the potential impacts of operating a high-speed magnetic levitation train – or MAGLEV – between DC and Baltimore. If built, MAGLEV would transport passengers from DC to Baltimore in 15 minutes, and to New York City in an hour.

Specific to our community, an undeveloped site in Mount Vernon Triangle – located north of K Street NW, south of New York Avenue NW, east of 6th Street NW and west of 5th Street NW – has been identified as a potential site location for the MAGLEV station terminal. The station would be built above a 1,000-space parking garage to support estimated demand for motor vehicle transit to and from the station. There will be three pedestrian entrances within the complex to help mitigate foot traffic in and out of the station. According to the analysis, the MAGLEV would travel along New York Avenue through a tunnel located 50-100 feet underground. The tunnel would be built using a construction methodology known as “cut and cover,” which would result in impacts along and around the corridor during the construction period.

A joint response to the DEIS by the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District, DowntownDC Business Improvement District and NoMa Business Improvement District is currently underway. However, our entire community is encouraged to review the DEIS and engage in this conversation. Public comments about the proposed project are being accepted through Thursday, April 22. Learn more information and submit your comments via the project website at https://bwmaglev.info.

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