Where the future meets the past-SCMAGLEV

The world’s fastest train brings Linthicum’s biggest question

By J.E. Szech     

              Linthicum’s days as a sleepy community that grew out of a short line railroad have faded into the history books.  The quiet calm of a winter’s night is no longer shaken by the rumble of a diesel, or the shrill whistle of steam in the railroad’s early days. Instead, Amtrak can now be heard in the distance and the hum of an approaching Light Rail train brings mixed feelings for many residents about what progress really means.  Howard’s is gone. Lindy’s is gone. Keller’s is gone.  One thing is constant though, a train still runs through Linthicum Heights.

              Linthicum’s next challenge in the name of progress has taken the form of a proposed Superconducting Magnetic Levitating (SCMAGLEV) train with a proposed route from Washington D.C. to BWI/Marshall and on to a Baltimore station.  Linthicum residents, as well as local representation in the Senate, fought against the original proposed MAGLEV train in the early 2000’s. The train at the time was planning to use German technology.  That project failed to move out of the impact study phase and ultimately died.  The current proposed train traces its roots to Governor Hogan’s trade mission to Asia in 2015 and is being developed by the Central Japan Railway Company. 

The major difference between this project and the earlier MAGLEV is the use of superconducting magnets.  A superconducting magnet is made from coils of superconducting wires that are cooled to cryogenic temperatures (-238 degrees Fahrenheit).  This technology is expected to deliver operating speeds over 300 miles per hour.  There is no contact with any rail once train achieves a determined speed and retracts its tires. The train would then be guided through a U-shaped channel.

Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail, LLC (BWRR) was formed to explore and develop the train in conjunction with an affiliated company, The Northeast Maglev.  Ultimately the goal would be to connect Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City through high speed rail.  Proponents of the project believe that the train would ultimately reduce travel time, reduce cars on the highways, as well as foster economic growth by allowing easy transit between Washingtonand Baltimore.  Construction of the system would also allow for job growth.  Japan has pledged two million dollars for the impact study and the Federal Railroad Administration has granted 27.8 million dollars for the development and planning of the portion of the system spanning from Washington to New York.  At this point in time no funds from the State of Maryland have been allocated for development or construction of the SCMAGLEV system.  In a recent address to the LSIA at the January meeting, State Senator Ed DeGrange stated that the current construction cost of the Washington-Baltimore segment could be approximately seventeen billion dollars or more.

Aside from the potential risk to taxpayers (at this point this is a private venture with oversight coming from the Maryland Department of Transportation), residents are concerned with the location of the system as well the potential loss of property and impact on home values.  The representatives from BWRR believe that home values would increase based on the proximity to high speed transportation and the ability to reach D.C. in 15-20 minutes.  The cost of that trip is still unknown. 

BWRR attained the ability to operate a railroad when it acquired the rights to the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad (WB&A) that ceased operations in 1935.  Under the agreement BWRR is not obligated to use previous WB&A rights of way, most of which are now paved roads, bike paths, or privately owned parcels of land.  The current impact study area is about 400 square miles comprised of a ten-mile wide path along the forty mile Baltimore/Washington corridor. David Henly, a BWRR Project Manager, emphasized at a recent scoping meeting that straight runs of land would be critical for the system to reach its 311 mile per hour operating speed and that tunnels may be an expensive option—especially in populated areas such as Linthicum where the train would stop at BWI/Marshall.  Tunnels are not the answer to every question regarding land use as ventilation and escape routes will have to extend to the surface.

At this time, residents are left with more questions than answers with many wondering if the financing for this project will materialize and whether state money will ever be contributed to the construction.  Senator DeGrange added that a bill was passed in the early 2000’s that prevented any state contributions to the development or construction of a MAGLEV train.  That law, however, was later found to be unconstitutional.   The new presidential administration has made claims that it plans to improve the national infrastructure which could lead to more federal rail money being pushed for the project, or an improvement of the existing Amtrak system.  LSIA will continue to monitor the progress of the development and residents who are concerned should write to the Governor directly.

DeGrange was responsible for blocking it but the legislation he pushed through was later declared unconstitutional by the courts. 

Important Contacts

Attached are the forms for the following:

1. Comment/Complaint Form for BGE Operation Pipeline related problems:  Please understand that this form is only for residents that were/are affected by the pipeline replacement program.

 operationpipeline@bge.com or call 1.800.685.0123

2. Maglev Comment Form: The scoping period has ended but you can make your comments known at any time.

http://www.baltimorewashingtonscmaglevproject.com/index.php/contact-us

New Year! New Savings!

Here is an updated list for your LSIA discount card! We have since added and Paradise Donuts!

This is an important note for delivery (Dominos and Carmelo’s): When you call in your order tell the person you have the LSIA 10% coupon and then show your card to the person when the food is delivered.

Reminders for using your card:
• YOU KEEP THIS CARD- just show the card at the participating business and them put it back in a safe place to use again! Not all of the businesses will have a sign in their window so check your Monitor for all the participating vendors.

• Check the list of businesses recorded below to see if there are any specifics: exclusions or certain items only THIS IS IMPORTANT TO READ! Only the businesses listed below are honoring the coupon. The ads in the Monitor are not involved with this coupon unless they are listed below.

• The coupon is good beginning November 1, 2016 and is good through May 31, 2017.

• DO NOT REPRODUCE THIS CARD IN ANY MANNER. This card is exclusive to LSIA members only. Any one can join but only 21090 (In the LSIA district) zip code members may vote at this time. Encourage your neighbors and friends to join!

• The participating businesses will be listed every month in the Monitor. Please check for any updates or changes.

• The coupon card may be used at the same business over and over again. It is not a one-time use coupon. You can save as much money as you want using the coupon card multiple times at any of the businesses; just pay attention to the exclusions and terms:
Here is the List of Businesses honoring the 10% off coupon: Please note specific offers:

Camp Meade Rd:
- Petal Pushers Florist & Gifts (In store items only)
-Tauber’s Towing Service (Local Towing only)
-Dominos Pizza
-Ocean Chinese Restaurant
-Matsu Sushi
-Land’s Dry Cleaning (Alterations only)
-Aviation Velo Bike Shop
-Charlene’s Hallmark (Candy items only)
-Siddalee Photography (Mini sessions excluded)
-Linthicum Market
- Carmelo’s
-Bernie’s Grill
-Lorrie’s Head to Toe
-2nd Chance Toyz
- Bill’s Hair Design (Haircuts only)
- Pohlman Plumbing
-Scruples Hair Design
-Bruce’s Supply Company
-Flowers Extraordinaire
-Paradise Donuts (coffee items only)

Hammonds Ferry Rd:
-Olive Grove
(Cannot be combined with any other offers)

Pinnacle Dr.: 
-Urban Bar-B-Que

International Dr. (off Nursery Rd.):
-Ruby Tuesday’s: NOTE: Do not use coupon! 
Ruby Tuesday coupons will be available at the regular LSIA monthly meetings so come to the meetings to receive their coupons!

Have fun and get out there and use your exclusive LSIA 10% off coupon card!

Winter Storm Preparedness Guide

Welcome Winter!

Get ready for Winter in Linthcum!

By Suzzie Schuyler, LSIA President

   Now that the wintery season has kicked in it is time to cuddle up to the fireplace sipping your favorite wintery drink and eat all your favorite comfy foods. This is the time to reflect on how great the holidays were and how they made you better.   If you didn’t make a New Years resolution here’s a thought.  Do something fun for yourself; take a class in something you’ve been wanting to do, start a new hobby, teach a younger relative something new, learn a new language. How about learning how to play an instrument?  Your generosity over the holidays has been very rewarding and now it is time to do something great for yourself for the new year.

With the snow starting it is time to get out the shovels and snow blowers. Be careful shoveling as it is very taxing on your muscles and cardiovascular system.  Help your senior neighbors any way you can; clear their sidewalk or ask them if they need anything at the grocery store when you head out before an impending storm. Make sure to bundle up in layers and take breaks, we want everyone to stay healthy and warm throughout this frosty season.  Also, be mindful while travelling on the roads. Keep a safe distance between cars to reduce sliding if you need to stop quickly.  Here are the top 10 tips to help cope with the winter weather:

1- Stay Warm

Heating yourself is more efficient than heating your entire home (especially if you live alone). Prepare your body for winter, seal off any unused rooms, and consider a space heater to save a little on heating costs. It's amazing what a good pair of socks or slippers will do.

2- Keep the Heat inside of your Home

 Check the most common places heat is escaping, and insulate them if you can (even bubble wrap will work). Run your ceiling fans clockwise to keep the heat circulating downward, and eliminate drafts to keep everything nice and toasty.

3- Stay Healthy

 Cold weather may not directly cause colds, but cold season is definitely in full swing. You don't have to hole yourself up to avoid getting sick, you just need to take a little extra care: get a good amount of sleep, wash your hands often, and stay active. 

4- Take an Off-Season vacation. 

The most obvious advice is if it's too cold where you live, go somewhere else. So why not take a little off-season vacation? Ski resorts may be popular in the winter, but if you go somewhere warmer—even if it's just a little warmer—you might be able to get a great deal in the off-season. Check out a travel site such as TripStarter to see where you'll find the best winter deals on a getaway. It doesn't have to be that long, either—even a 10-day reprieve will help you relax.

5- Prepare for a Snow Storm

Every year it seems like there's another "snowpocalypse" or "snowmageddon" that's going to bury us all until spring, but in reality, it's usually just a few big snows every year. Still, you should be ready for anything, whether it's something simple like a cancelled flight or something worse like losing power or getting snowed in entirely. Put together an emergency kit for your home and your car, and keep everything well charged. If you do lose power, you can still stay productive—you just have to prepare for it. Suggested kit:  Record where your shut off valves are for water and gas, and the breaker for the main electric to your home. Rotate your semi-perishable foods and stock up on canned foods in case you cannot get out.  Have an alternative heat source- blankets, fireplace, or a kerosene space heater (ALWAYS USED WITH PROPER VENTILATION!) Keep plastic sheeting and duct tape if a tree falls on the house or a window breaks.  Have your devices charged and have car chargers for your devices. In areas with frequent power outages a home generator is a good investment.

6- Avoid dry eyes, skin, and static shock

Cold temperatures and snowy weather may seem like winter's biggest downers, but the dry air can also cause lots of annoyances. Your skin and eyes will probably be a lot drier in the winter months, so make sure you take extra care of them. Cover up your face and eyes, use a good moisturizer, and get a good humidifier if your house is feeling a little dry. It should also help with those static shocks, too.

7- Use your thermostat wisely

You may be tempted to crank up the thermostat in the winter, but this can be costly—and unnecessarily so! A programmable (or even smart) thermostat can help a lot, but you can also drop your thermostat gradually to help you get used to slightly colder temperatures.

8- Drive Safely in the snow

Snow may be pretty when it's falling, but as soon as you have to drive somewhere, it becomes your worst enemy. Make sure your car is prepared for winter so you avoid any technical issues, then brush up on your winter driving skills. Know which streets are plowed, brake before you turn, and keep a healthy amount of space between you and the car in front of you. You might want to stock your car with a few useful items too, like cooking spray for frozen doors, or kitty litter in case you get stuck (though floor mats may work in a pinch). Park facing  the east if you can to defrost your windshield, too.

9- Beat the Winter Blues

Winter isn't exactly the happiest of seasons, whether you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or not. Focus on all the positive things about winter to get yourself psyched, and soak up as much natural sunlight as you can. Make sure you take extra special care if you work from home, too, which can make winter's depressing effects even worse.

10- Stay active, even in the Cold

Most of us tend to hole ourselves up in the winter, which means lots more couch potato-ing—especially if you're used to exercising outside. That means to stay fit and healthy, you should try twice as hard to stay active as you do during the summer. Luckily, you have a lot of options, from running to skiing or even biking. You can even keep exercising when you have a cold, though if your symptoms are below the neck, you should probably take a break.

Following these best practices will help us all to enjoy and stay safe through this winter and hopefully not much snow.

So let’s help each other this winter and be kind, you just might make your day!