A high-speed rail will soon transform the way people live, work and play in the Northeast region, according to Northeast Maglev’s Senior Vice President Ian Rainey. He was joined by urban planners, business leaders and government officials in a discussion on smart cities at “Transformer: Cities,” a Washington Post Live event, this week.

The company expects to begin construction in two years on a line that would travel from Washington, DC to the Baltimore in 15 minutes, a trip that typically can take 45 minutes or more with existing transportation options.

Also during the discussion, Andrew Altman, principal of Fivesquares Development, warned that smart cities can’t afford to lose sight of the “basics.” Beyond advanced mobility and technology solutions, smart cities still need to prepare for fundamental needs like housing, land use and transportation, he said.
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