MAGLEV PASSES ANOTHER HURDLE

The Commonwealth of Virginia's Transportation Board Thursday voted by an 8-2 margin to approve a resolution allowing the Secretary of Transportation to transfer up to $7 million to Old Dominion University to support the design, construction and testing for the American Maglev demonstration project. Members of the general Assembly now have 30 days to review the project.

Announced last year, the American Maglev project is a unique partnership between Old Dominion University, American Maglev Technology, the commonwealth of Virginia, the federal government and Dominion Resources/Virginia Power. Old Dominion will be the site for a transit system using "maglev" technology -- short for magnetic levitation -- connecting the existing campus with areas of new development east of Hampton Boulevard. The system will use specially designed vehicles that
glide on an electromagnetic cushion on an elevated guide way.

Under the partnership, Old Dominion is the lead research university, with Lockheed Martin designing the
vehicles and guide rails and Dominion Resources/Virginia Power providing power equipment, site power and
other services.