A Los Angeles based start up called Hyperloop One is preparing to build a system for moving passengers and freight across long distances at hundreds of miles per hour, in above-ground tubes, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) thinks South Texas is the perfect place to build it, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"It is still way out there in the future, but so was flying into space or landing on the moon," Cuellar told News Radio 1200 WOAI's Michael Board.
Hyperloop One over the weekend released its eleven finalists for a location for its first Hyperloop, and Texas is among them.
Hyperloop One is another project of billionaire Elon Musk, who also brought us Tesla Motors and Space-X private space flight.
"I join the chorus of local governments and businesses supporting a Texas Hyperloop," Cuellar said. "While success in this contest does not guarantee that we will receive a Hyperloop when the technology becomes available, I welcome this promising sign."
Cuellar is supporting one of eleven finalists announced over the weekend, a Hyperloop from Dallas through Austin, San Antonio and Laredo, with a connection to Houston.
A Dallas based beam from AECOM has been selected among the top five proposals to help build a Hyperloop, which would move passengers and goods at up to 500 miles an hour, potentially making airplanes, with the attendant hassles of flying, obsolete for short haul trips.
Cuellar has met with Hyperloop officials, as well as the U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Houston Authority, and the Houston Galveston Area Council have all endorsed the idea of a Hyperloop in Texas.
Hyperloop promotes itself as 'a new way to move people and things at airline speeds for the price of a bus ticket." It compares the technology to 'broadband for transportation.'
According to Hyperloop One, a trip that would take 10 hours and 45 minutes by car would take 55 minutes by Hyperloop.
Hyperloop testing has taken place at Texas A&M University.
GRAPHIC: HYPERLOOP ONE