Hyperloop One has bold ambitions to bring Elon Musk’s vision to life and overhaul the transportation industry. However, it won’t be cheap.
As part of the company’s bid to find a location to construct its first Hyperloop for paying customers, 10 global finalists were announced. One of those finalists is a route proposed by the state of Colorado which would run for 360 miles and connect Denver to Pueblo, Vail and Cheyenne.
According to the state, it would cost $24 billion to construct the Hyperloop but suggests it could handle 45 million trips in 2040 and ultimately generate $2 billion in revenue per year. Additionally, the state thinks the Hyperloop could transfer freight between cities and Denver International Airport and increase GRP in the region by an additional $25 billion by 2040.
Under the proposal, construction would begin with a 40-mile track between Denver International Airport and Greeley. From there, a second 75-mile track would be built through the mountains while the main 250-mile north-south line would then run between Pueblo and Cheyenne and have stops in Colorado Springs, the Denver Tech Center, Fort Collins and elsewhere, The Denver Post reports.
Despite the state’s eagerness to be selected as Hyperloop One’s first location, Colorado Department of Transportation executive director Shailen Bhatt says the state won’t be footing the bill, saying “the funding model will be key.”