MAGLEV, From page 1 environmental study that will evaluate potential effects in the area extending from the Interstate 95 corridor east to central Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties— a distance of about 10 miles.

“We’re hearing you loud and clear.

There’s a lot of passion, but I think all of us in the DMV just want to improve transportation,”

Maryland Department of Transportation representative Bradley Smith said in a presentation.

“We’ve been in a lot of meetings with the private company, pushing back on a lot of the technical specifications.”

Current routes being considered, along with a “no-build alternative,” are along an existing Amtrak route and two spots along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Specific route areas can be seen on the interactive map at bwmaglev.info/index.php/web-application.

“Not 100 percent of the people are going to be happy with the decision that’s made.

That’s kind of just the nature of transportation projects,” Smith later told the crowd.

Many residents at the meeting opposed the maglev, worried the route could run too close to their homes.

State Sen. James C. Rosapepe, a Democrat from District 21, voiced his strong opposition to the project.

“The proposal to put this in Odenton doesn’t pass a laugh test,” he said. “The faster we get the Amtrak route off the table, the better.”

Odenton resident Julie Mair said she’s strongly against maglev as a whole.

“Odenton gets no benefits from this,” she said. “It serves nothing but destroying our neighborhood. Our homes are our biggest investment here.”

The Maryland Department of Transportation will hold two more maglev meetings this month: Oct. 24 at Laurel High School and Oct. 25 at Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore. ssanfelice@capgaznews.com