It has a long way to go to match the speed and capacity of high-speed rail technology, but at least the Hyperloop has achieved one critical benchmark: a test involving human passengers.
"Virgin Hyperloop announced that for the first time it has conducted a test of its ultra-fast transportation system with human passenger," reports Andrew J. Hawkins.
"The test took place on Sunday afternoon at the company’s DevLoop test track in the desert outside Las Vegas, Nevada," according to Hawkins. "The first two passengers were Virgin Hyperloop’s chief technology officer and co-founder, Josh Giegel, and head of passenger experience, Sara Luchian."
The pod achieved a speed of 100 mph on the 500-meter-long track. "The company says it has conducted over 400 tests on that track, but never before with human passengers — until [November 8]," according to Hawkins.
The article includes details of how far the technology has to go to reach its theoretical potential—or even the reality of existing high-speed rail technology.
Virgin Hyperloop since released video of the test on YouTube, shown above.
Various media outlets picked up news of the test, including Smart Cities Dive and CNN Business.
FULL STORY: Virgin Hyperloop Hits an Important Milestone: The First Human Passenger Test
The Hyperloop’s Prospects Dim
The media is coming around to the idea that the hyperloop is not a near-term solution for the country’s transportation woes. It’s too little, too obvious, too late.
Virgin Hyperloop Shifts to Cargo Transport, Lays Off Staff
The company sees cargo as a more promising and cost-efficient use of its technology.
West Virginia Wins Bid for Location of Virgin Hyperloop Facility
Virgin Hyperloop's Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC) will be located on an 800-acre site straddling Tucker and Grant counties in West Virginia.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
