The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Friday announced the cancellation of a $26 million federal grant for the long-delayed high-speed rail project between Washington and Baltimore.
The funding was initially earmarked for the proposed $20 billion Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (MAGLEV) line, a project touted as a revolutionary transport link using cutting-edge technology. However, the department cited “nearly a decade of poor planning, significant community opposition, tremendous cost overruns, and nothing to show for it” as the reasons for pulling the plug on the grant.
The MAGLEV project, which aimed to cut travel time between the two cities to just 15 minutes, has faced mounting obstacles since its inception. 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.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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