Kit Slack’s recent article, “County councilmembers tussle over zoning, sprawl,” discusses the impact of development projects on floodplains, stormwater control, pollution and energy demands — issues commonly addressed in assessing transportation projects.
The proposed massive Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (SCMaglev) train project (three stops: D.C. to BWI to Baltimore) presents deep concerns over unmitigable environmental damage and negative community impacts. Significant implications for zoning and land use would arise, primarily because the private company project sponsor — Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) — is seeking to access federally owned lands. This precedent would invite other activities that would further degrade and destroy federal lands. Whether the land is designated as a wildlife refuge, protected or conservation, the purpose would completely change.
Development in protected waters and land would change the assimilative capacity of the waters to filter pollutants and diminish the ability of the habitat to handle flood and stormwater runoff. Recently, the Maryland Department of the Environment advised BWRR that there were “not reasonable assurances that the project would comply with water quality standards.” In addition, the SCMaglev would burden Maryland with tremendous energy requirements, the equivalent of approximately 89,000 homes.
The county council is rightly concerned about how sprawl and zoning changes could negatively impact our quality of life and the environment. Projects such as the SCMaglev impact us locally but also present deeper concerns about impacts on protected lands nationwide, energy demands much higher than can be provided with green technology and lower quality of life for those living nearby.
Susan R. McCutchen, Board Member
Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit
