Magnetic Train a Solution to Many Problems.

To scan the horizon of Southern California's future over the next 20 years is to see a diverse, thriving region blessed with compelling opportunities for robust economic expansion. But there's a catch. We'll reap the benefits of our huge potential only if we embrace creativity and innovation in solving the sobering mobility challenges that will accompany the region's surging growth.

Fortunately, regional leaders are currently examining a state-of-the-art, high-speed solution to serve as a major component to Southern California's future transportation network.

By 2020, Southern California's population will balloon to 21 million people. Some 5.5 million jobs will have been added -- a staggering 60 percent increase over today's job numbers. As a result, we can expect to see a 47 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled in Southern California each year and a whopping 85 percent increase in air passenger traffic.

The challenge is this: Unless Southern California's political, business and community leadership bands together and embraces high-speed transportation solutions ahead of the region's continued expansion, we can expect the freeways connecting our population centers to grind to a halt. Our airports will stagger beneath passenger and cargo demands, and lost productivity resulting from increased congestion will have major consequences for both Southern California's economy and our quality of life.

The good news is, Southern California could be home to the nation's first foray into a high-speed transportation system capable of making the region's vast distances -- and the time it takes to traverse them -- virtually irrelevant.

Through a cooperative partnership comprised of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the state of California, the wheels are in motion to bring a high-speed rail system based on state-of-the-art magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology to the region. The initiative, known as the California Maglev Deployment Program, is exploring several options for the development of an 84-mile Maglev system that will whisk travelers from Los Angeles International Airport to the Inland Empire in a breathtaking 30 minutes.

Propelled by an electromagnetic system, Maglev travels on an elevated, electricity-powered guideway at speeds of more than 200 miles an hour. Remarkably, its unique electromagnetic propulsion system allows the train to literally levitate over the guideway, producing a smooth, frictionless and quiet ride.

The federal government recognizes the great potential of Maglev. The California Maglev Deployment Program is one of seven high-speed rail proposals across the country currently being considered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for federal deployment funds authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century. The California Maglev Deployment Program is already well down the track, having received $3.4 million in federal funds and another $1.7 million from local sources to formulate preliminary plans for the system's development.

Project descriptions were submitted to the FRA at the end of June. Several of the projects will receive additional federal funding for engineering and environmental analysis, and the process, will culminate in the FRA's selection of a project for $950 million in federal funds to design and construct the nation's first Maglev system. The remainder of the construction funds will come from various private-sector sources.

Maglev's promise for Southern California is impressive. It has the capability to connect Southern California's major population and transportation centers, providing a clean, safe, efficient and affordable alternative for travel. Within the region, SCAG and other local, regional and state transportation leaders ultimately envision a comprehensive Maglev system that includes high-speed service to North Los Angeles County, Orange County, and additional areas of the Inland Empire that could integrate with other transit services and facilities, and will eventually form the foundation of a proposed statewide high-speed rail network traveling from San Diego to Sacramento.

Because of its high-speed capability, Maglev is projected to significantly reduce Southern California's dependence on the automobile. In fact, it is projected that it will trim annual automobile demand in numbers equivalent to 18 to 20 freeway lanes and offset 25 million to 30 million vehicle trips each year.

Clearly, these numbers will result in significant improvements to Southern California's air quality, and because the Maglev system will be constructed along existing freeways and railroad rights of way, it will have a negligible land impact.

Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles, is a state senator, and Ron Bates is president of the Southern California Association of Governments.