Missouri Hyperloop

The Missouri Hyperloop was a proposed high-speed transportation route in the U.S. state of Missouri.^[1][2] The hyperloop would connect the cities of St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, complementing the busy Interstate 70.^[3] Cross-state travel between Missouri's two largest cities would be reduced from four hours to under 30 minutes.^[4]

Concept of a Virgin Hyperloop

Heavy traffic along I-70 west of St. Louis

In 2017, the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition was formed as a partnership between Virgin Hyperloop One, the University of Missouri, and engineering firm Black & Veatch.^[5][6] The coalition released a report that concluded such a hyperloop was feasible, the first such study in the United States.^[4][7] It touts benefits including annual savings of $500 million, fast and cheap travel for over 5 million people in Missouri's two largest metropolitan areas, and connecting technology and research centers including the University of Missouri.^[8][9][10]

In 2019, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon panel to examine the details of funding and construction, including a potential 10–15-mile (16–24 km) test track.^[11][2] The corridor has been described as an ideal location because of its relative flatness, population density, and preexisting infrastructure.^[12] Virgin Hyperloop CEO Jay Walder referred to Missouri as a "model process" for planning hyperloops.^[13][14]

In June 2019, Virgin Hyperloop One announced a partnership with the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts of Washington University in St. Louis to further investigate different proposals for the Missouri Hyperloop.^[15]

In October 2020, West Virginia was announced as the location for the test track,^[16] though this was never constructed.^[17] In December 2023, Hyperloop One announced it was shutting down after failing to obtain any contracts to build a working system.^[18]