Here's Elon's EA on his 35-mile long DC Loop project.

[Dave Brough]

It's over 500 pages of flyshit and even then, only a first draft. Someone's put in some serious (and expensive) effort. 

I find the 'Alternatives Analysis interesting (p 49)...

"Only a single alignment connecting Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, meets the Purpose and Need of the proposed Project (below) and satisfies the design objectives identified in Section 1.4. Other potential alignments between the two cities maximizing use of public ROW (e.g., an alignment following I-95 and public ROW between I-95 and each city) would not satisfy the objectives to optimize travel times, design speed, or passenger comfort because such alignments would involve curvatures that would require reductions in speed increasing travel times and decreasing passenger comfort. Other alternatives using private land not owned by TBC could not be accomplished due to the timely process and complexity related to acquiring many subsurface easements for private land, and eminent domain would not be used on this project."

What about elevated HS PRT or DualMode using existing RoWs and alignments you guys? Both of which would/should receive a FONSI. (Finding Of No Significant Impact)

Dave Brough

Purpose and Need TBC proposes construction and operation of the Washington, D.C. to Baltimore Loop Project to create a safe, affordable, environmentally-friendly, and expandable transportation alternative for a congested urban transportation corridor.  

The purpose of the proposed Project is to provide underground, high-speed passenger transportation between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. 

The proposed Project is needed because high travel demand between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore results in severe congestion, leading to inefficient and unreliable travel. 

[Jerry Roane]

Dave Brough

" 2.3 Build Alternative The proposed Project, as described in Section 1.3, is the Build Alternative being evaluated in this EA. There is only one Build Alternative presented in this EA; therefore, the Build Alternative is also the Preferred Alternative."  You mean this bit of linguistic calisthenics ???  

Building a guideway down the center grass of the Baltimore Washington Parkway would be super easy and cheap.  Certainly an alternative better than the above double speak.  What an alternative would provide is the pretense of a bid competition where the two Gregorys could sign their names to it like they did on 4--17-2019 

35 miles is nothing.  At 180 mph that is 11.7 minutes.  The problem with a tunnel that leaves Baltimore is it really does not leave "Baltimore" but rather it only leaves one square yard of Baltimore.  Someone has to get to that square yard first and then park their real car.  Once in DC they have to hoof it or wait in the long line that goes around and around the national mall.  I have been in that traffic making a slow circle and it was no fun.  I have also been on the Baltimore Washington Parkway.  They had some government official in an official motorcade and they shut the whole thing down.  I had to leave the highway and use back roads to get to my appointment for the senate staffers presented by TTI and Texas A&M where I had a cameo appearance in that empty meeting.  Shutting down a major highway is crazy but that is what they did.  

$14 million for elevated guideway is cheaper than this 500 page document once fully signed off with everyone involved both government salary and Elon's team.  

I do agree that the present road system is totally inadequate between these two locations.  

Jerry Roane   

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