Musk Pitches Texas Hyperloop Amid History of Unfinished Tunnels
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Elon Musk claims The Boring Company is eyeing a high-speed link between Austin and San Antonio, despite several other proposed projects failing to materialize.
Elon Musk has announced that The Boring Company is developing a "simple precursor Hyperloop" designed to connect Austin and San Antonio, according to reporting from TechCrunch. Musk claims the project would shorten the travel time between the two Texas cities to under 30 minutes.
The announcement surfaced after Musk shared an AI-generated science fiction video, stating, "This is the future we shall bring into being." The Boring Company echoed this sentiment on social media, stating the firm would be "honored" to execute the infrastructure project.
However, TechCrunch notes a pattern of unfulfilled promises from the tunneling startup. Proposed systems in Los Angeles, Chicago, and a route connecting Washington, D.C. and New York City have not materialized. The company currently operates a hybrid tunnel and surface transportation system in Las Vegas and recently secured a $3 billion funding round led by the United Arab Emirates.
Critics, including historian Jill Lepore, suggest Musk's visions are rooted in pulp science fiction and comic books, with Lepore telling TechCrunch that Musk favors sci-fi that "completely defeats and defies all of his political beliefs."