Musk pitches Hyperloop link between Austin and San Antonio
Elon Musk says his company The Boring Company is developing an early-stage Hyperloop concept between Austin and San Antonio that would cut travel time to under 30 minutes, though the firm has a track record of unrealized infrastructure projects.
Elon Musk has claimed that his tunneling company The Boring Company is developing what he called "a simple precursor Hyperloop" connecting the Texas cities of Austin and San Antonio. According to Musk, the system would reduce travel time between the two cities to less than 30 minutes.
The Boring Company's official account shared Musk's statement, adding that it would be "excited and honored" to build such a large-scale infrastructure project.
A history of unfinished projects
Many previously announced Boring Company projects have failed to materialize, including tunnel systems planned for Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as a proposed link between New York City and Washington, D.C. The company does, however, operate a working transportation system in Las Vegas that combines tunnels with surface routes. It also recently closed a $3 billion funding round led by the United Arab Emirates.
Context behind the announcement
Notably, Musk's remarks about a possible Austin-San Antonio Hyperloop came in response to an AI-generated video depicting a generic science-fiction future featuring human colonies on other worlds. Musk reposted the video, declaring it to be "the future we shall bring into being."
Critics have pointed out that Musk's vision of the future appears to draw heavily on pulp science fiction and comic books. Historian Jill Lepore recently observed that Musk seems drawn to science fiction that "completely defeats and defies all of his political beliefs."
