Baltimore And Washington

In the race for federal money to build the nation's first high-speed magnetic levitation train, Maryland will take a big step forward next week as one of a handful of states awarded funds for formal studies."

The marriage between Baltimore and Washington that created the nation's fourth-largest market is in danger of being torn apart this year. Although that might sound good to the Baltimoreans still upset over the forced union in 1992, the move could have implications beyond regional pride. The amount of federal funding a community receives is, in some cases, based on whether a county is in or out of a metropolitan area. And splitting Baltimore and Washington also could decrease the Baltimore area's chances of attracting large corporations for economic development, investment and jobs - especially in suburban counties such as Howard and Anne Arundel.

Howard County residents had their first chance yesterday to express their displeasure with a proposed high-speed train that could travel through the county along Interstate 95. In a brief presentation to the county's Public Transportation Board last night, state officials explained the benefits of the proposed Maglev train, which would connect Baltimore and Washington and stop at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. But builders and residents complained that the project would hurt property values and has halted progress of the Emerson development.

The federal government is expected to combine, on paper at least, the Baltimore and Washington areas into one megalopolis, stretching 200 miles from Berkeley County, W. Va. to Queen Anne's County. Appalachia meets the Eastern Shore -- in one common market? The change is solely for statistical purposes, but some people believe the change will help the region sell itself. The Washington market is now the eighth largest in the country. Baltimore is 18th. With 6 million-plus people, this joint metropolitan statistical area would rank fourth.

OF THE 20 Summer Olympiads that have been held outside the United States, three-quarters took place in national capitals.It makes sense that a country would showcase its seat of government -- the most tangible symbol of its values.That hasn't been the case in the United States, however, where St. Louis, Los Angeles and Atlanta have hosted the four summer games held in this country. That should be a consideration of the U.S. Olympic Committee as it weighs the joint bid of Baltimore and Washington to host the 2012 Olympiad.

A 300 mile-an-hour train that could whisk Baltimore commuters to Washington (and vice versa) in 15 minutes would help energize and transform the two cities' economies into one large regional metropolis, the project's supporters said yesterday, but it will never happen without $500,000 for a feasibility study.Funding for the $1 billion prototype magnetic levitation -- or "maglev" -- train, is being considered by Congress as part of the mammoth transportation reauthorization bill, according to William Boardman, a Washington consultant who is head of a coalition working to persuade Congress to build the prototype ,, line between Baltimore and Washington.

THE AUDACIOUS effort by Baltimore and Washington to seek the 2012 Olympics faces a critical deadline. Unless it wins the backing of both jurisdictions' city councils by the end of the year, the bid will not be considered by the U.S. Olympic Committee.With Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke championing the joint application, the Baltimore City Council appears set to approve a support resolution tomorrow. A similar resolution has been endorsed by outgoing Mayor Marion S. Barry. The District of Columbia City Council is scheduled to consider it Dec. 1, before the newly elected members are sworn in.Once those resolutions are secured, the Washington-Baltimore Regional 2012 Coalition can file its proposal to host the Summer Games.

Howard County residents had their first chance yesterday to express their displeasure with a proposed high-speed train that could travel through the county along Interstate 95. In a brief presentation to the county's Public Transportation Board last night, state officials explained the benefits of the proposed Maglev train, which would connect Baltimore and Washington and stop at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. But builders and residents complained that the project would hurt property values and has halted progress of the Emerson development.

PERHAPS IN AN earlier era, Columbia would be a child of mass transportation, created as a whistle stop on a rail line or a way station for buses traveling between Baltimore and Washington. But it seems little thought was given to transit needs when the planned town in Howard County came into being 30 years ago. There is some bus service and limited transit to the big cities to the north and south. But what would seem a natural location for a local train or light-rail has none.So most commuters from Columbia prefer to drive their own cars to work and people in the cities who want to get to jobs in Columbia had better have their own transportation.

IT'S A SIGN of the times that when Baltimore's B&O Railroad Museum recently sponsored a trip to Maryland's railroad landmarks, it had to be conducted by bus.Railroads still are a major factor in transporting freight. But, as the statistics for this busy holiday season show, airplanes and cars have replaced passenger trains as the travel mode of choice for most Americans.More than four decades have passed since passenger service ceased from Baltimore to York, Pa., Annapolis and Bel Air. And while state-financed MARC commuter lines still provide service to Washington, they are hardly the kinds of lifelines as the trains of yore, which carried pretty much everything we needed -- from milk to mail -- in addition to passengers.