Texas is one of 10 worldwide finalists in a private company’s challenge to move passengers at speeds of nearly 700 mph using a pod and tube system.
Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One announced the finalists Sept. 14 in a competition that attracted attention from more than 100 countries across six continents. The company is trying to identify the best routes for its new transportation system, which would use pods lifted above a track by magnetic levitation. The pods would glide at airline speeds because of ultra-low aerodynamic drag in the tube.
Hyperloop One and the Colorado Department of Transportation, supported by AECOM, will enter into a public-private partnership that will begin a feasibility study that examines transportation demand, economic benefits, proposed routes and potential strategies, regulatory environments and alignment with overall CDOT high-speed travel, rail and freight plans.
Routes chosen include: US: Cheyenne-Denver-Pueblo; US: Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh; US: Miami-Orlando; US: Dallas-Houston; UK: Edinburgh-London; UK: Glasgow-Liverpool; Mexico: Mexico City-Guadalajara; India: Bengaluru-Chennai; India: Mumbai-Chennai; Canada: Toronto-Montreal
The proposed 640-mile route in Texas connects the cities of Dallas (DFW International Airport and Downtown Dallas), Austin, San Antonio, Houston (Downtown Houston and the Port of Houston) and Laredo (the Laredo Inland Port). This corridor was selected based on the Texas Triangle’s growing economic climate, booming population, key connections to cargo infrastructure, and its central location within North America, according to AECOM, the integrated infrastructure firm that pulled together a team of urban planners, engineers, architects, economists, and policy experts to put forth the proposal. The Texas route is one of the longest, with only the India – Mumbai route longer at 685.
Cargo users will be able to ship their goods seamlessly between air, sea and land, according to a news release from AECOM. Passengers will be able to travel between major cities in Texas in mere minutes, as opposed to hours.
AECOM represented five of the eight winning teams, including Hyperloop Texas. The other AECOM winning routes include:
• US: Cheyenne – Pueblo (Rocky Mountain Hyperloop)
• US: Miami – Orlando
• India: Bangalore – Chennai
• Canada: Toronto – Montreal
aecom.com
