California to Receive Additional Funds for Los Angeles Maglev Project.

Business Editors/Government & Transportation Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2001

California's Secretary of Transportation Maria Contreras-Sweet announced today that the State will receive an additional $877,066 in federal funding for the next phase of pre-construction activities to determine the feasibility of the Los Angeles Maglev System. The federal funds are available to California under the Maglev Deployment Program administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. California has received $3.4 million in federal funds for the project since 1999.

Maglev (magnetic levitation) is an advanced technology in which magnetic forces lift, propel, and guide a train over, usually, an elevated guideway at speeds of up to 300 mph.

For the past several months the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency has been actively involved in negotiations with the Federal Railroad Administration, Caltrans and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for the additional $877,066.

The maglev project seeks to implement regional high-speed rail service in Southern California to help alleviate traffic congestion, improve air quality and link Southern California's regional airports more effectively. "I want to emphasize that these funds will be used to conduct more detailed engineering, financial and environmental studies during the next phase before a final decision is made to support construction of the project," said Secretary Contreras-Sweet. The funds will be used in part to study the impacts of the proposed maglev route on future state highway needs and on its potential contribution to achieving Governor Davis' goal of reducing traffic congestion.