Missouri Hyperloop
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File:Hyperloop all cutaway.png
The Missouri Hyperloop was a proposed high-speed transportation route in the U.S. state of Missouri.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/01/30/missouri-ready-700-mph-commutes/1078842001/|title=Is Missouri ready for 700 mph hyperloop commutes?|website=usatoday.com|last=della Cava|first=Marco|date=January 30, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225952/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/01/30/missouri-ready-700-mph-commutes/1078842001/|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/missouri-panel-planning-out-next-moves-to-land-hyperloop-service|title=Missouri panel planning out next moves to land Hyperloop service|website=kshb.com|last=Shively|first=Lindsay|date=March 25, 2019|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225953/https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/missouri-panel-planning-out-next-moves-to-land-hyperloop-service|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}} The hyperloop would connect the cities of St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, complementing the busy Interstate 70.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/17/17989504/virgin-hyperloop-one-missouri-feasibility-study|title=A hyperloop in Missouri? A new study says it's feasible, but not necessarily affordable|website=theverge.com|last=Hawkins|first=Andrew J.|date=October 17, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225952/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/17/17989504/virgin-hyperloop-one-missouri-feasibility-study|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}} Cross-state travel between Missouri's two largest cities would be reduced from four hours to under 30 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18115/missouri-may-get-its-own-hyperloop-if-it-isnt-too-expensive|title=Missouri May Get Its Own Hyperloop If It Isn't Two Expensive|last=Edelstein|first=Stephen|website=thedrive.com|date=January 31, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225947/https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18115/missouri-may-get-its-own-hyperloop-if-it-isnt-too-expensive|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}}
In 2017, the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition was formed as a partnership between Virgin Hyperloop One, the University of Missouri, and engineering firm Black & Veatch.{{cite web|url=https://hyperloop-one.com/blog/missouri-one-step-closer-hyperloop-depth-feasibility-study|title=Missouri Is One Step Closer to a Hyperloop with In-Depth Feasibility Study|website=hyperloop-one.com|publisher=Virgin Hyperloop One|date=January 30, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225948/https://hyperloop-one.com/blog/missouri-one-step-closer-hyperloop-depth-feasibility-study|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2018/01/30/plans-are-moving-forward-to-bring-a-hyperloop-route-to-missouri/#668b8d504414|title=Plans Are Moving Forward To Bring A Hyperloop Route To Missouri|website=forbes.com|last=Knapp|first=Alex|date=January 30, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329002630/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2018/01/30/plans-are-moving-forward-to-bring-a-hyperloop-route-to-missouri/#668b8d504414|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}} The coalition released a report that concluded such a hyperloop was feasible, the first such study in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2018/10/17/virgin-hyperloop-one-missouri-feasibility-report.html|title=Hyperloop: Missouri could be epicenter for 21st-century transportation|website=bizjournals.com|last=Collins|first=Leslie|date=October 17, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019}} It touts benefits including annual savings of {{US$|500 million|long=no}}, 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/hyperloop-in-the-heartland-a-triumph/article_4569e496-5903-50c7-8f0e-aefc1f0755f2.html|title=Hyperloop in the heartland: A triumph|website=stltoday.com|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|first=Steven L.|last=Edwards|date=October 22, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225950/https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/hyperloop-in-the-heartland-a-triumph/article_4569e496-5903-50c7-8f0e-aefc1f0755f2.html|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/17/hyperloop-one-says-missouri-route-is-economically-viable/|title=Hyperloop One says Missouri route is economically viable|website=engadget.com|first=Daniel|last=Cooper|date=October 17, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225948/https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/17/hyperloop-one-says-missouri-route-is-economically-viable/|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20180908/missouri-hyperloop-coalition-draws-on-mu-students-ideas|title=Missouri Hyperloop Coalition draws on MU students' ideas|last=Churchill|first=Lexi|publisher=Columbia Daily Tribune|date=September 8, 2018|accessdate=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330202224/https://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20180908/missouri-hyperloop-coalition-draws-on-mu-students-ideas|archive-date=March 30, 2019|url-status=live}}
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 {{convert|10|-|15|mi|adj=mid|}} test track.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article227458519.html|title=Kansas City-St. Louis Hyperloop on a fast track? New panel to look for funding|website=kansascity.com|publisher=Kansas City Star|last=McKinley|first=Edward|date=March 12, 2019|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225953/https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article227458519.html|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}} The corridor has been described as an ideal location because of its relative flatness, population density, and preexisting infrastructure.{{cite web|url=https://www.startlandnews.com/2019/02/missouri-hyperloop/|title=Missouri Hyperloop talk turns to motion sickness, comfort at high-speeds|website=starlandnews.com|first=Austin|last=Barnes|date=February 21, 2019|accessdate=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328225951/https://www.startlandnews.com/2019/02/missouri-hyperloop/|archive-date=March 28, 2019|url-status=live}} Virgin Hyperloop CEO Jay Walder referred to Missouri as a "model process" for planning hyperloops.{{cite web |url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/missouri-a-model-process-for-proposed-hyperloop-ceo-says |title=Missouri 'a model process' for proposed Hyperloop, CEO says |first=Lindsay |last=Shively |work=KSHB |location=Kansas City |date=April 24, 2019 |accessdate=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426013806/https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/missouri-a-model-process-for-proposed-hyperloop-ceo-says |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2019/04/25/hyperloop-ceo-walder-praises-missouri-route.html|title=Hyperloop CEO: Missouri route is leading the pack|first=Leslie|last=Collins|work=Kansas City Business Journal|location=Kansas City|date=April 25, 2019|accessdate=April 28, 2019}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://source.wustl.edu/2019/06/designing-hyperloop-infrastructure/|title=Designing hyperloop infrastructure {{!}} The Source {{!}} Washington University in St. Louis|date=June 24, 2019|website=The Source|language=en-US|access-date=August 9, 2019}}
In October 2020, West Virginia was announced as the location for the test track,{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/hyperloop-chooses-west-virginia-not-missouri-for-new-route|title=Virgin Hyperloop chooses West Virginia, not Missouri, for test track|date=October 8, 2020|website=KSHB 41 Kansas City News}} though this was never constructed.{{cite news |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2023/03/24/hyperloop-stalls/ |title=Hyperloop Stalls |author=Hoppy Kercheval |date=March 24, 2023 |publisher=MetroNews}} In December 2023, Hyperloop One announced it was shutting down after failing to obtain any contracts to build a working system.{{Cite news|last=McBride |first=Sarah |date=2023-12-21 |title=Hyperloop One to Shut Down After Failing to Reinvent Transit |language=en |publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-21/hyperloop-one-to-shut-down-after-raising-millions-to-reinvent-transit |access-date=2023-12-21}}