Community Questions

• Why does the SCMAGLEV not terminate at Union Station?

  Various station locations are being evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. Union Station was evaluated as a station location in Washington, DC but was eliminated from further consideration for a number of reasons. These reasons and the overall methodology used to evaluate station locations are detailed in the Preliminary Alternatives Screening Report (PASR) that was published in January 2018. The report can be accessed at the Project EIS website by following this link: https://www.bwmaglev.info/index.php/project-documents/reports

• Why locate at Mt. Vernon vs. Union Station?

  Various station locations are being evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. These reasons and the methodology used to evaluate station locations are detailed in the Preliminary Alternatives Screening Report (PASR) that was published in January 2018. The report can be accessed at the Project EIS website by following this link: https://www.bwmaglev.info/index.php/project-documents/reports

• Where is funding coming from?

  BWRR anticipates that funding for the construction of the Project will come a variety of sources that are still to be determined. These will likely include a combination of both U.S. and Japanese government grant and loan programs, as well as private funding.

• Has there been enough funding secured to begin the project?

  Approximately $100 million in private funding has already been spent in developing the Project thus far. Additionally, the federal government is providing grant funding for the Project through the Maglev Deployment Program (MDP). This grant funding is primarily being used to fund the EIS. Funding for actual construction has not yet been secured, as the EIS must be completed before construction can commence.

• Are there any guarantees that our neighborhood will not end up with unfinished excavation if cut & cover is begun on NY Avenue but there is insufficient funding to complete the Project?

  The Project will not commence construction until funding and/or financing are identified and all requisite permits and approvals have been issued by the appropriate authorities. We will utilize construction best practices to ensure a minimum level of disruption to the community. Construction is expected to occur in segments. It is estimated that it will take 4-5 months to complete each segment (segments are defined as a single intersection or roadway between two signalized intersections). Thus, at any given time, only a portion of cut and cover excavation will be taking place and it will be of limited duration.

• What is the overall budget for the project?

  Until the route, stations, and facilities are determined, a precise estimate cannot be determined. However, we expect the Project to cost upwards of $10 billion.

• What is the approximate cost of a passenger ticket?

  At this stage it is premature to estimate the cost of a passenger ticket, but we expect that our pricing will, on average, be comparable to other transportation options currently operating in the corridor. We also expect that pricing will vary by time of day (peak vs off-peak) and travel purpose (for example, business vs non-business).

• How will the Maglev compare to AMTRAK and airline flights in pricing?

  At this stage it is premature to estimate the cost of a passenger ticket, but we expect that our pricing will, on average, be comparable to other transportation options currently operating in the corridor. We also expect that pricing will vary by time of day (peak vs off-peak) and travel purpose (for example, business vs non-business).

• Who will maintain ownership of railroad?

  Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR).

• Will the train be entirely underground?

  The route between the District and Baltimore will be approximately 75% underground. In the District, it will be 100% underground.

• What source of fuel/power will the maglev use?

  The SCMAGLEV operates on electric power, which we anticipate will be provided by area utilities.

• What comes out of the substation vents? How will it impact the environment? Are there contaminants?

  Substations do not have vents. They are designed only to transmit power to the SCMAGLEV system. The Fresh Air/Emergency Egress (FA/EE) facilities provide fresh air flow to the underground tunnels and provide a means of passenger egress in case of an emergency. FA/EEs are located approximately every 5 to 6 kilometers along the alignment. Only fresh air comes out of the FA/EE and has no effect on the environment.

• How loud will the FA/EE be?

  The FA/EE is equipped with noise dampers and sound proofing and is extremely quiet.

• Where will the next FA/EE station will be?

  The exact locations of the FA/EEs is still to be determined, but will be outside the District.

• Will the project intersect the Red & Green line, Clean Rivers Tunnel, or the Anacostia River?

  The route crosses under the Clean Rivers Northeast Boundary Tunnel as well as the Anacostia River.

• Will the Maglev interface with DC Water tunnel project?

  The Project tunnel will be constructed under the DC Water tunnel. DC Water is aware of the Project and we will continue to coordinate our efforts with them.

• Will this development replace trains as we know them?

  No, city and regional trains will continue to serve these markets. The bulk of our projected ridership is expected to come from diverted automobile travelers, which has the added benefit of reducing congestion on the region’s busy roadways.

• What impact will construction have on existing buildings?

  Construction will be carefully planned and managed to ensure that buildings and other nearby structures are not damaged in any way.

• Will there be an insurance issue for homes above tunnel?

  Due to the depth of the tunnel, neither construction nor train operations will have a perceptible impact on above-ground structures.

• Will there be a full relocation of municipal uses off the Langdon site?

  Yes, BWRR will work closely with the District to ensure the relocation of the various operations currently conducted at this location.

• Will there be other Japanese technology implemented as well?

  The SCMAGLEV core system only is a Japanese technology.

• Is there an easement anywhere along the construction line in DC?

  BWRR will require approval to construct underneath New York Avenue, which will be discussed and coordinated with the District.

• What happens when there is an issue with a train?

  In most instances a train will proceed to the nearest station in the event of an emergency. However, in the unlikely event that the train is stopped in a tunnel and passengers must be evacuated, the passengers would be directed by crew members to an emergency evacuation walkway that is located beneath the guideway. The walkway has an independent ventilation system with fireproof doors so that passengers can safely walk to an emergency exit. Detailed procedures will be developed to ensure that a train evacuation is conducted in the safest and most expeditious possible manner.

• Will evacuations take a long time?

  In most instances a train will proceed to the nearest station in the event of an emergency. However, in the unlikely event that the train is stopped in a tunnel and passengers must be evacuated, the passengers would be directed by crew members to an emergency evacuation walkway that is located beneath the guideway. The walkway has an independent ventilation system with fireproof doors so that passengers can safely walk to an emergency exit. Detailed procedures will be developed to ensure that a train evacuation is conducted in the safest and most expeditious possible manner.

• How does the system keep moving? Are there multiple "tracks" or emergency "tracks"?

  The trainset is propelled, guided, and levitated by the interaction of the superconducting magnets on the trainset with electromagnets on the sidewalls of the guideway. The trainset is propelled using a linear motor, with the rotor inside a conventional motor corresponding to the superconducting magnets on the trainset, and the stator corresponding to the propulsion coils in the sidewall. As the trainset increases speed, it induces a current in the levitation and guidance coils in the sidewalls, causing the coils to become electromagnetic. Attractive and repulsive magnetic forces acting between the levitation and guidance coils and the superconducting magnets levitate the trainset 4 inches above the guideway. Due to the strength of these magnetic forces, the trainset can safely operate at a speed of 311 mph. There are two guideways (the equivalent of “tracks”) in the tunnel sections. There are no emergency guideways.

• How does the public stay up-to-date on the project?

  There are several resources that the public can refer to to stay current on the Project. The official EIS website contains the most recent publicly available information on the EIS process itself: https://www.bwmaglev.info. Additionally, the public can refer to the BWRR website for more information about the project and the technology itself: https://bwrapidrail.com

• What jobs and training opportunities will be available?

  A full range of construction and support jobs will be in demand. We are working with the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and others to identify strategies to maximize labor opportunities in the District and region.