Faster trips- high peak speed and high acceleration/braking 
  enable average speeds three to four times the national highway 
  speed limit of 65 mph (30 m/s) and lower door-to-door trip 
  time than high-speed rail or air (for trips under about 300 
  miles or 500 km).  And still higher speeds are feasible.  
  Maglev takes up where high-speed rail leaves off, permitting
  speeds of 250 to 300 mph (112 to 134 m/s) and higher.

  High reliability-less susceptible to congestion and weather 
  conditions than air or highway.  Variance from schedule can 
  average less than one minute based on foreign high-speed rail
  experience.  This means intra- and intermodal connecting times 
  can be reduced to a few minutes (rather than the half-hour or 
  more required with airlines and Amtrak at present) and that 
  appointments can safely be scheduled without having to take 
  delays into account.

  Petroleum independence-with respect to air and auto as a 
  result of being electrically powered.  Petroleum is unnecessary 
  for the production of electricity.  In 1990, less than 5 
  percent of the Nation's electricity was derived from petroleum 
  whereas the petroleum used by both the air and automobile 
  modes comes primarily from foreign sources.

  Less polluting-with respect to air and auto, again as a 
  result of being electrically powered.  Emissions can be 
  controlled more effectively at the source of electric power 
  generation than at the many points of consumption, such as 
  with air and automobile usage.

  Higher capacity-than air.  At least 12,000 passengers per hour 
  in each direction with potential for even higher capacities at 
  3 to 4 minute headways.  Provides sufficient capacity to 
  accommodate traffic growth well into the twenty-first century 
  and to provide an alternative to air and auto in the event of 
  an oil availability crisis.