WASHINGTON – As part of the Department of Transportation’s commitment to supporting innovative efforts to strengthen intercity connections and create jobs, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today awarded a $27.8 million grant to the State of Maryland for preconstruction and planning costs for the potential development of a magnetic levitation (maglev) train between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Md. The funding may be applied to preconstruction planning, engineering analysis, and other capital costs for fixed guideway infrastructure.

Maglev trains operating in Japan routinely travel at speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour and have been tested at speeds approaching 400 miles per hour. FRA will evaluate the viability of this maglev project to achieve its high safety standards while assessing the potential of this technology to address future intercity travel needs.

In 2005, Congress authorized $90 million for maglev transportation projects that would be capable of safely transporting passengers faster than 240 miles per hour.

For more information, please see the 2015 Notice of Funding Availability: https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L16260.