ColoradoHyperloop.com is proud to have been founded five months after Elon Musk’s initial white paper in May of 2013. We have shifted the conversation for sustainable transportation and infrastructure to look 50 years into the future and have been at the forefront of hyperloop discussions and the reality of the real world.
ColoradoHyperloop.com’s goals fulfill three categories; imagining how high-speed Hyperloop transportation might be built and deployed in Colorado with local user input, decrease air pollution by petrol-based transportation, and support train and high-speed rail initiatives through the Great Plains and Mountain West.
We see a perfect storm in the next couple of years in the progress of electrified high-speed transportation in Colorado and the world. Below are updates from around the State and nation. ColoradoHypelroop.com is proud to be a part of the wider debate for sustainable transportation and make sure Colorado users are heard.
Governor Polis on High-Speed Electrified Transportation
Governor Polis gave ColoradoHyperloop.com his policy position on faster-than-car transportation during the campaign. We believe the Polis Administration’s leadership is aligned to fulfill ColoradoHyperloop.com’s goals as stated above. We look forward to closely monitoring and reaching out to the Governor for policy, but a great first start is his stated dedication to moving Colorado’s electric grid to 100% renewable sources by 2040, and thus
“Colorado is relying on
https://polisforcolorado.com/transportation/20th century infrastructure to power a21st century economy. It is time for bold, innovative ideas that are not just going to add lanes to highways, but rather build a system for the future. I’ve built my career on long-term solutions. As an entrepreneur that built an internet company before computers were a household item, createdfirst-of-its kind producer-to-consumer online companies, I am very excited to see ideas like the hyperloop considered. I encourage this type of leadership and look forward tosee innovative ideas like this come to fruition.
Imagine being able to quickly commute anywhere between Fort Collins and Pueblo without the usual hassles of driving up and down I-25, like air and noise pollution, traffic, and icy roads. A comfortable, wi-fi connected, mass-transit option that is accessible and affordable may be the solution that makes this vision a reality.
Effective rail can help us get to work quicker and less expensively than driving a single-occupancy vehicle, especially when you consider the mounting costs of gas, maintenance, and depreciation of a car’s value. While Colorado will always continue to evaluate and aggressively pursue bringing emerging technologies like Hyperloop to our state, an economically viable rail option is a promising and attractive alternative to traveling by car.”
Arrivo
Is no-more. It was a brief but spectacular ride.
Colorado Rejects Two Transportation Ballot Measures
ColoradoHyperloop.com did not have a stated policy position for three reasons:
- Hyperloop was not mentioned.
- Both groups, while different, need each other to build, fix and ‘go’ for statewide transportation needs. We are dismayed that these two groups and measures did not work together more, as collaboration is the only way to move the State forward.
- The current way that transportation is funded, by elected State House and Senate representatives, is completely hamstrung by Tabor / Gallagher. These bigger issues need to be dealt with first.
Virgin Hyperloop One, AECOM & CDOT
ColoradoHyperloop.com is still waiting for these groups to release or be contacted for “initiate stakeholder engagement” for connecting Cheyenne, Denver Pueblo. Transparency has been a key to the founding of ColoradoHyperloop.com, so we look forward to their outreach:
In addition to technical and economic aspects, the study will offer multiple opportunities for additional partners and stakeholders, such as local governments, businesses, and community groups to become part of this venture and to help make hyperloop a reality in Colorado.
https://www.aecom.com/jp/press-releases/rocky-mountain-hyperloop-project-advances-second-half-feasibility-study-unveils-vision-denver-intl-airport-portal/
Colorado Passenger Rail Initiative
ColoradoHyperloop.com is encouraged by their fantastic work and we highly recommend you subscribe to their newsletter and become a supporter. Their latest update included details on the Rail Commission:
Legislature funds Rail Commission
http://colorail.org/
The Colorado Legislature appropriated $2.5 million dollars for the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission to begin planning a Front Range rail corridor. The Joint Budget Committee then released an initial allocation of $938,000 for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2019. The Commission will request the balance in the upcoming legislative session.
The measure enjoyed bipartisan support. ColoRail thanks House Speaker Crisanta Duran and House Transportation Committee Chair Faith Winter for their leadership.
The state DOT is now interviewing candidates for a project director who will lead the creation of the Front Range rail plan.
New Head of CDOT
Governor Jared Polis recently appointed Shoshana M. Lew as the new Executive Director for CDOT and she has experience in financial operations of DOT’s and studied in American History. Welcome to Colorado!
Mountain Rail and Loop
ColoradoHyperloop.com does not focus too much on
While Virgin Hyperloop One considers their tubes going along I-70, the I70 Coalition is the latest group to want
With regard to the high-speed transit component, there is more that needs to be known about its potential and specifically about the economic impacts of high-speed transit in the corridor.
https://goi70.com/news/2018/high-speed-transit-economic-impacts-considered
Development Research Partners has been retained by the I-70 Coalition, Summit/Clear Creek and Eagle Counties, CDOT, Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation, City and County of Denver, City of Idaho Springs, and Black Hawk Silver Dollar Metro District to conduct a study to estimate the economic impacts of a high-speed transit system in the I-70 Mountain Corridor. Development Research Partners is surveying and interviewing residents, businesses and various other individuals and organizations to better understand how high-speed transit might change business-to-business and consumer-to-business spending.
Washington Post, Green Deal and E-bikes/scooters/transit
- The Washington Post has a fantastic on “The rising Western skyline” that mentions “The construction is focused around public transportation centers.”
- Interesting article on the new “Green Deal” by Vox. “High-speed trains already compete with planes in many parts of the world. They also have far lower carbon emissions.”
- Mashable had an interesting article on e-bikes “After Uber bought Jump, people started riding bikes instead of ordering cars” which mentions Denver: “All this data shows how e-bikes, e-scooters, and yes, even public transit, can work together to get people around.”