Virginia maglev project to get $2 million

by Jim Repass
TRA Advisor
Founder of National Corridors Initiative

Old Dominion Univ. will be getting $2 million in federal funds to complete a Maglev project on the campus. University President Rosanne Runte said the funding was included in the recently enacted omnibus spending package for fiscal year 2003 – which began last October.

The Mace and Crown , a student-run newspaper, stated they learned of the funding on February 14 in their February 18 edition.

Funding for the project ran out last fall due to a series of problems with the new technology. Two “grand opening” events, first in September and again in November, passed without ceremony, before construction on the stations and track stopped completely.

Work to eliminate bumps and rattles, one of the biggest engineering hurdles, has been continuing at Lockheed Martin’s laboratory in Florida as engineers and scientists work to improve the train’s controls for a smoother ride.

Officials hope the money will be released in a few weeks. Robert Fenning, vice-president of administration and finance, will meet with the contractors to discuss the immediate restarting of the final phase of construction, Runte said. No date was specified.

The project was originally budgeted at $16 million. Private contributors Lockheed Martin and Dominion Virginia Power provided $7 million, another $7 million was provided in state loans, and the remaining $2 million came from federal funds.

The university stated it is not a financial partner, nor were student fees used in the project.

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Used by Permission
Copyright 2003, NCI, Inc.
Reprint from Destination Freedom, Vol. 4, No. 8.