Missouri Hyperloop

The Missouri Hyperloop is a proposed high-speed transportation route in the U.S. state of Missouri.^[1][2] The hyperloop would connect the cities of St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, complementing the busy Interstate 70.^[3] Cross-state travel between Missouri's two largest cities would be reduced from four hours to under 30 minutes.^[4]

Concept of a Virgin Hyperloop

Heavy traffic along I-70 west of St. Louis

In 2017, the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition was formed as a partnership between Virgin Hyperloop One, the University of Missouri, and engineering firm Black & Veatch.^[5][6] The coalition released a report that concluded such a hyperloop was feasible, the first such study in the United States.^[4][7] It touts benefits including annual savings of $500 million, fast and cheap travel for over 5 million people in Missouri's two largest metropolitan areas, and connecting technology and research centers including the University of Missouri.^[8][9][10]

In 2019, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon panel to examine the details of funding and construction, including a potential 10–15-mile (16–24 km) test track.^[11][2] The corridor has been described as an ideal location because of its relative flatness, population density, and preexisting infrastructure.^[12] Virgin Hyperloop CEO Jay Walder referred to Missouri as a "model process" for planning hyperloops.^[13][14]

In June 2019, Virgin Hyperloop One announced a partnership with the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts of Washington University in St. Louis to further investigate different proposals for the Missouri Hyperloop.^[15]

In October 2020, West Virginia was announced as the location for the test track,^[16] though this was never constructed.^[17] In December 2023, Hyperloop One announced it was shutting down after failing to obtain any contracts to build a working system.^[18]

References

1. della Cava, Marco (January 30, 2018). "Is Missouri ready for 700 mph hyperloop commutes?". usatoday.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
2. Shively, Lindsay (March 25, 2019). "Missouri panel planning out next moves to land Hyperloop service". kshb.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
3. Hawkins, Andrew J. (October 17, 2018). "A hyperloop in Missouri? A new study says it's feasible, but not necessarily affordable". theverge.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
4. Edelstein, Stephen (January 31, 2018). "Missouri May Get Its Own Hyperloop If It Isn't Two Expensive". thedrive.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
5. "Missouri Is One Step Closer to a Hyperloop with In-Depth Feasibility Study". hyperloop-one.com. Virgin Hyperloop One. January 30, 2018. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
6. Knapp, Alex (January 30, 2018). "Plans Are Moving Forward To Bring A Hyperloop Route To Missouri". forbes.com. from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
7. Collins, Leslie (October 17, 2018). "Hyperloop: Missouri could be epicenter for 21st-century transportation". bizjournals.com. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
8. Edwards, Steven L. (October 22, 2018). "Hyperloop in the heartland: A triumph". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
9. Cooper, Daniel (October 17, 2018). "Hyperloop One says Missouri route is economically viable". engadget.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
10. Churchill, Lexi (September 8, 2018). "Missouri Hyperloop Coalition draws on MU students' ideas". Columbia Daily Tribune. from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
11. McKinley, Edward (March 12, 2019). "Kansas City-St. Louis Hyperloop on a fast track? New panel to look for funding". kansascity.com. Kansas City Star. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
12. Barnes, Austin (February 21, 2019). "Missouri Hyperloop talk turns to motion sickness, comfort at high-speeds". starlandnews.com. from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
13. Shively, Lindsay (April 24, 2019). "Missouri 'a model process' for proposed Hyperloop, CEO says". KSHB. Kansas City. from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
14. Collins, Leslie (April 25, 2019). "Hyperloop CEO: Missouri route is leading the pack". Kansas City Business Journal. Kansas City. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
15. "Designing hyperloop infrastructure | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis". The Source. June 24, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
16. "Virgin Hyperloop chooses West Virginia, not Missouri, for test track". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. October 8, 2020.
17. Hoppy Kercheval (March 24, 2023). "Hyperloop Stalls". MetroNews.
18. McBride, Sarah (December 21, 2023). "Hyperloop One to Shut Down After Failing to Reinvent Transit". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 21, 2023.