So you say you're tired of traffic ... (Colorado Springs, Fort Collins: fit in, 2015)

[JD401]

https://transportevolved.com/2015/06...in-california/

"Unveiling his design in a preliminary technical paper called Hyperloop Alpha, Musk set out the idea for a transport system which used a series of partially-evacuated elevated cylindrical tubes, large enough for a specially-designed capsule to fit inside. Powered by solar panels set on top of the roof of the tube and set in motion by a linear electric motor set into the tube itself the capsules would travel on a cushion of air at speeds of up to 800 miles per hour, he theorised."

"Enter Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), a company formed by JumpStarter Inc. CEO Dirk Ahlborn to specifically turn Elon Musk’s idea into reality. Not to be confused with Hyperloop Technologies — a completely separate firm following the same dream — HTT says it has secured the necessary agreements needed to break ground on a five-mile test track near the town of Quay Valley, California.

Located alongside Interstate 5, Ahlborn told National Geographic that construction on the track should be finished by 2017, with the five-mile stretch ready to accept passengers by 2018."

It will be interesting to watch the development of the test track. Futurama, here we come!

[Snikt]

The biggest problem I see with this and some current public transit is what do you do once you get to your destination?

Let's say this system ran from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. I live in Littleton and I want to head to Colorado Springs for the day. Great, I could take this system to get there, and then I'm basically stuck within walking distance of wherever the destination station is.

I couldn't go to Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs, etc... without renting a car, taking a cab or similar.

This kind of thing could work maybe connecting NYC to DC, places that have well established subways and transit where you can actually get around and do things.

[JD401]

Originally Posted by Snikt

The biggest problem I see with this and some current public transit is what do you do once you get to your destination?

Let's say this system ran from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. I live in Littleton and I want to head to Colorado Springs for the day. Great, I could take this system to get there, and then I'm basically stuck within walking distance of wherever the destination station is.

I couldn't go to Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs, etc... without renting a car, taking a cab or similar.

This kind of thing could work maybe connecting NYC to DC, places that have well established subways and transit where you can actually get around and do things.

I think that's maybe where something like Uber or other ride sharing sharing programs might come in to play. Or a car2go or something similar station? I notice that the rental companies are even testing the waters in to the "self-rent-pay-as-you-go" model. But that's a good point overall.

I was thinking, what if somehow these could be used for inner city destinations, not just along corridors? What if a practical alternative could be developed to get you from the corridor to an inner area. That's one of the huge limitations of our light rail. Elevating lines would be cheaper than burying, and would solve traffic pattern dilemmas in such a scenario. Beautification and congruence with neighborhoods would be a hindering point made, but it's an interesting concept.