Maglev breaks ground at Virginia university

Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., broke ground on a commercial maglev transportation system in August. The system will cost $14 million to build in a partnership with American Maglev Technology and Dominion Power Virginia. “At Old Dominion, we are not only driving the first pylon in the future of low-cost, energy-efficient and rapid transport, but we are moving our great nation into a new century,” said Old Dominion President Roseann Runte. The maglev project will link key activity centers and connect the existing Norfolk campus with areas of new development. Guideway and station construction should be completed by the end of the year and the vehicle, which is currently being tested and constructed, will arrive in January. Passenger service is slated to begin in summer 2002. The system will use a single vehicle, about 45 feet long with a capacity of 100, to run every seven minutes at speeds of up to 40 mph. The elevated guideway, about 3,400 feet long, will be supported by concrete columns spaced 80 to 90 feet apart.