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Hempfield Township residents — and especially those living in Bashforth Acres — got their chance to ask questions and make statements about a high-speed magnetic-levitation train Thursday.

About 250 people — including several from neighboring Penn Township — grilled Maglev Inc. representatives about the train at a meeting sponsored by the Hempfield Township supervisors at Harrold Middle School.

Most of those questioning the Maglev Inc. representatives either could have their homes taken if plans for the train continue or would be near the train's elevated track, called a guideway.

"I urge you to consider two other Cs," one woman said, referring to letters given to the two paths now being reviewed in Westmoreland County, "consideration and compassion."

One of the two alignments being studied slices a path through Penn Township's center and then continues on through Hempfield Township.

That route would run through an expansion area of the Valley Landfill, the residential developments of Oak Farm and Campbell Farms estates, Claridge and Shramm's Farm and Orchard in Penn Township. It also would run near the Grandview Fire Hall before cutting through Bashforth Acres in Hempfield Township en route to a proposed magport, or station, near the Greengate Mall.

The other route under consideration in Westmoreland County basically would cut through Murrysville's business district, run parallel with routes 22 and 66, go through Beech Hills in Hempfield Township and then connect with the magport near Greengate.

Despite claims from Penn Township elected officials and others, Lou Rocchini of the MSM Group, a venture involving the Maguire Group, Skelly and Loy Inc. and McCormick, Taylor and Associates Inc., maintained neither route in Westmoreland County currently is getting priority over the other.

MSM is considering the routes for the train as part of an Environmental Impact Study that the group is doing under contract for the Port Authority of Allegheny County, a public entity involved in the project. The 47-mile elevated maglev track would connect Pittsburgh and its international airport with Monroeville, Allegheny County, and Greensburg.

Other inquiries at the meeting centered on one question in particular: Why the Harrisburg-to-Pittsburgh railroad corridor wasn't considered more in Westmoreland County. It is a question also being asked in Penn Township.

"Go the railroad tracks," a few people yelled at one point during the presentation.

Rocchini noted earlier in the meeting that the Westmoreland rail corridor was looked at years ago, but was not viewed further "because of a number of impacts."

He said maglev officials also question whether the area along the Westmoreland County tracks would meet maglev train requirements.

"We can't follow the tight turns," Rocchini said, adding that his group is considering the suggestion anyway.

But the question persisted.

Janice Kemerer of Bashforth Acres asked why about 11 miles of area near railroad tracks in Allegheny County were being considered as the path for the train there, and land along rail lines in Westmoreland County wasn't.

Rocchini said the area along railroad tracks in Allegheny offers more space than it does in Westmoreland. "It is not fitting exactly the right way," he said.

Brian Wagner of Bashforth Acres urged the Hempfield Township supervisors to get more involved.

"I encourage our township supervisors to join with the Penn Township (commissioners) to oppose" the route that would go through Penn Township and Bashforth Acres, Wagner said.

All five supervisors attended the session, but none responded to Wagner's statement.

Maglev Inc. expects to firm up routes in June and hold public hearings.

After that, Rocchini noted, plans will be refined more and residents will continue to have a say. Their objections will be included in a report, or draft, to go to the Federal Railroad Administration, which will pick between the Pennsylvania project and another in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area for $950 million in federal up-front construction funding, he said.

That decision is expected early next year.

"Let's go Baltimore," one woman replied.

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