It is interesting that Mr. Shapiro mentions at-grade rail but ignores magnetic levitation.  My written testimony to Senator Tokuda’s committee showed a cost comparison between conversion to at-grade rail, $7.23 billion based on their own figures, and conversion to maglev, $5.9 billion. Television coverage of the hearing on the nightly news showed the at-grade proponent, Mr. Scott Wilson, testifying but ignored little old me and the maglev.  The steel wheels proponents treat me like “a flea on a dog’s back” wherever I testify.  Too bad, because Mayor Caldwell and HART interim CEO, Mr. Murthy, could become real heroes by making a change to urban maglev.  I guess I am better off ignored than being excoriated like Senator Tokuda by this newspaper’s editorial board for doing her job better than those in the city administration, the City Council, and HART are doing their jobs.