Twenty-first century transportation is coming to Old Dominion University, thanks to a $16 million gift and a unique partnership with American Maglev Technology, the commonwealth of Virginia, the federal government and Dominion Resources/Virginia Power.

Old Dominion will be the site for an American Maglev project that will be the first of its kind in the nation: a transit system using "maglev" technology - short for magnetic levitation - that will connect the existing campus with areas of new development east of Hampton Boulevard in the University Village. The system will use a specially designed vehicle that glides on an electromagnetic cushion on an elevated guide way. Passenger service is slated to begin in spring 2001.

"American Maglev's commitment of $16 million for this project is the largest gift in university history," said President James V. Koch.

"The maglev project will enable people to move to and from the Constant Convocation Center and the new east campus much more efficiently," he added, noting that the new system would be free for all riders.

The maglev route will run from Whitehurst and Powhatan residence halls, across Powhatan Avenue to 43rd Street, along 43rd Street and across Hampton Boulevard to the new convocation center, with stations at the residence halls, the 43rd Street parking garage and the convocation center garage.

Under the partnership, Lockheed Martin will design the vehicle and guide rails and Dominion Resources/Virginia Power will provide power equipment, site power and other services. "This project represents the first step in a seamless transportation system for the new millennium. Our objective remains to connect the Hampton Roads region with Washington, D.C., by the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in 2007," said Tony Morris, president of American Maglev Technology.

The project at Old Dominion will be financed by both private and public funds. including a $7 million loan approved by the Virginia General Assembly and administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation; $7 million from private companies, including Lockheed Martin and Dominion Resources/Virginia Power, and $2 million approved by Congress for U.S. maglev projects and earmarked for a Virginia project by members of the Virginia delegation.

The system will consist of a single vehicle, approximately 45 feet long with a capacity of 140 riders, to run every four minutes at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. The elevated guideway, approximately 4,400 feet long, will be supported by concrete columns.

President Koch noted that while two experimental maglev transportation tracks exist in Japan and Germany, maglev has never been successfully implemented on a daily basis as a functioning transportation system.

"This presents us with an interesting scientific and engineering challenge that is especially appropriate for our science and engineering faculty and students," he said. "We intend to make our maglev system work and to establish it as an international model.

"However, ultimately, if we are not able to surmount all of the challenges in front of us, we will develop an alternative transportation system on the backbone that we have developed."