The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has canceled a $26 million federal grant for the long-delayed high-speed rail project between Washington and Baltimore.
The funding was initially allocated to the proposed $20 billion Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (MAGLEV) line, a project that aimed to revolutionise transportation between the two cities using cutting-edge technology ¹.
The MAGLEV project was designed to cut travel time between Washington and Baltimore to just 15 minutes, utilizing trains powered by magnetic forces at speeds up to 311 mph (500 kph).
The project would have involved building deep tunnels or elevated viaducts to support the rail line.
An environmental review that began years ago has been paused since 2021, leaving the project in limbo.
Opposition from local communities and environmental groups, combined with the soaring costs and a lack of visible progress, has steadily eroded support for the project.
Friday’s decision by the USDOT effectively ends the federal government’s financial backing, raising serious doubts about the project’s future.
