Los Angeles has created a joint-powers authority to consider a regional magnetic-levitation train system. The $26 billion system would be funded and operated by a private firm.
"On the one hand, the City Council is exploring the possibility of something that's new, innovative, cost-efficient and would be a boon to the entire region."
"And on the other, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is pushing an idea that's old, outrageously expensive and would drain resources from most of the Los Angeles region."
"Call it maglev vs. subway to the sea - a study in contrasts."
"On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council gave initial approval to a $26 billion high-speed, magnetic-levitation train system by creating a joint-powers agreement with neighboring cities. The train system would start at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, run through downtown, and eventually reach Ontario Airport."
"When completed, the maglev would remove countless trucks from the road by moving cargo transit to rails. By including a passenger component, it would take commuters off the road, too, and facilitate airport regionalization, thus relieving pressure on the 405 Freeway and Los Angeles International Airport."
FULL STORY: Maglev vs. subway
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Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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