Hyperloop

December 14, 2020

Tesla founder, Elon Musk, has plans to build a tube train from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to the Loop, called the “Hyperloop.”

Chicago’s intricate rail system incorporates the local CTA and Metra, which some believe should be the focus of the city’s expansion; moving past the current stop at the far west end of O’Hare.

Whether or not the city’s mayor is focused on enhancing the current Metra system, or leaning towards using the tunnel-drilling technology provided by Musk is still up in the air.

If the city moves towards a new system, it’s important to remember that in order for high speed rail to be useful—and worth it—it has to move A LOT of people.

Moving between O’Hare and Chicago’s loop, would certainly move a significant number of people, but building a “Hyperloop” from Chicago to St Louis, or just to replace the Metra within the city, doesn’t make as much sense.

It has to make sense; it’s not always glamorous.

Doing the math: for a “Hyperloop” from Chicago to St. Louis, for the cost it would take to build, you could buy roundtrip tickets to St. Louis for five years.

Let me know in the comments what you would do if you were mayor of Chicago. Build a Hyperloop from O’Hare to the Loop or work to upgrade and expand the current Metra?

Originally posted by Larry Jordan on LinkedIn – 12/7/2020