Hyperloop Between Cleveland-Chicago Feasible, Study Finds

CLEVELAND — A new study from an engineering group shows a proposed hyperloop between Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh could bring long-term benefits to all cities. The study said the hyperloop would create 900,000 jobs across the regions over 25 years.

"The results of the study have surpassed even our most optimistic considerations," said HyperloopTT founder and chairman, Dirk Ahlborn. "Working closely with our government and industry partners we have shown that Hyperloop is the high-speed transportation system of choice for the 21st century."

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) revealed some of the results of its hyperloop study on Tuesday during a town hall meeting. The study took 18 months to complete and was conducted by a third-party firm. The research concluded the hyperloop is feasible and could generate numerous economic benefits for Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Operational costs for businesses in the three regions, as well as travel time for residents, would be reduced greatly. The study also predicted the hyperloop would cause a spike in real estate prices, increased wages, and an expanded tax base for the regions.

From an environmental standpoint, the study predicted a hyperloop would reduce carbon emissions by 143 million tons.

The study was done in collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and third-party engineering firm Transportation Economics & Management Systems. The full study will be revealed at a public event in Cleveland on Dec. 17.

"Clearly the project shows very good merit and is, in fact, the first intercity passenger ground transportation system to show a positive rate of return that TEMS has assessed in the last 30 years," said Alexander Metcalf, president, Transportation Economics & Management Systems.

HyperloopTT is currently building the world's only passenger hyperloop system in France.