With

no contact and the associated friction and wear

and tear on moving parts, advantages of the

Maglev system include increased efficiency, quiet

operation and relatively low maintenance costs.

Additionally, because it has almost no emissions

of any kind, this technology has minimal

environmental impacts.

To

encourage the deployment of this cutting-edge

technology into the United States, the Federal

Railroad Administration selected seven test

corridors around the country, including the

Atlanta/Chattanooga corridor, to determine which

location would best showcase the Maglev

technology. The FRA is administering grants

totaling approximately $35 million among the

seven study corridors, with the amount of each

grant based on the project.

These

federal funds will pay up to two-thirds of the

cost of the feasibility study, with the remainder

financed through local matches.

"With

private partners, the ultimate investment to the

winning region will be at least one and a half

billion dollars," according to Harry West,

director of ARC. "Not only will the

successful region have an unanticipated infusion

of dollars in its economy, it will claim the

distinction of being the first to bring this

technology to the U.S. and will attract world

attention."

ARC

will serve as the lead agency and grantee for the

Atlanta/Chattanooga Maglev Deployment Study,

working with many other partners from

Chattanooga, other cities in the corridor, the

Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the

Georgia Department of Transportation.

The

study is to be completed by June of 2000 and will

include a detailed project description and a

program of public/private partnership to help get

this project off the ground. Further, a draft

environmental assessment will be completed by

Feb. 29.

At

the completion of this study, FRA will determine

which of the seven study corridors will have the

distinction of building the first operating

Maglev system in the world. The winning region

will receive $1 billion to construct a 40-mile

track to become operational by March 2005.

For

information about the Atlanta-Chattanooga Maglev

Deployment Study, visit the Web site at

www.acmaglev.com <https://www.acmaglev.com/>

or call ARC Maglev project coordinator, Bob

McCord at 404 364-4214 or 404-463-3253 after Jan.

1.

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