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Maryland towns gear up to fight proposed high-speed train

Critics say the train would offer little benefit to communities it will pass through but would saddle them with construction impacts.

GREENBELT, Md. — Residents, civic associations and local governments in Maryland counties that would be crossed by a proposed high-speed, magnetic levitation train linking Baltimore and Washington say they are weighing options to fight the plan. 

The Washington Post reports the city of Greenbelt is among those opposing the maglev project. 

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Last month, the city issued a request for services to attorneys willing to take on the fight. Other options being weighed include lobbying and organizing protests. 

Critics say the train would offer little benefit to communities it will pass through but would saddle them with construction impacts. 

Supporters say it would ease traffic congestion and boost economic development.

Backers of an American SCMaglev project believe the Northeast Corridor will inevitably host the infrastructure, a feat of engineering that could supercharge transportation between Washington and Baltimore.

But a proposal to avoid homes within Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties runs into another set of concerns – possible interference with the operations of the National Security Agency and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

In the most recent set of documents published by federal authorities, the U.S. intelligence agency and NASA voiced concerns that a maglev near their facilities could potentially interfere with research and security operations.

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