Hyperloop

Virgin Hyperloop successfully tested its latest ultrafast transportation technology, the HyperLoop, with human passengers in November, notching a first in a field crowded with other contenders.

Columbus transportation officials have been working with the company since 2017 in hopes of being part of the Hyperloop MidWest hub.

A proposed Hyperloop line connecting Central Ohio to Chicago and Pittsburgh could be shovel-ready within the next decade, but the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission says it does not have estimates on how much the project would cost.

Statehouse visitors on Monday will get a first look at the XP-1, a prototype of the vehicle Virgin expects to use in Hyperloop systems like the one proposed for Columbus. It's the hyperloop's second stop in Columbus, after appearing in front of COSI on Sunday.

Columbus is taking another step toward the creation of a hyperloop connecting the city with Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Researchers are hard at work on two feasibility studies for hyperloop connections running through Ohio, including a route that could link Pittsburgh and Chicago with Columbus. There’s a strong current of optimism among many considering the technology, even if questions of cost and practicality remain out of reach.

When Columbus made Amazon’s list of finalists for the tech giant’s second headquarters, critics had one major concern: the city’s transportation system. With talk of a Hyperloop once again in the air and a Smart City project in the works, how citizens get around Columbus has become a pressing question. 

The travel time from Columbus to Chicago or Pittsburgh may soon be cut down to just a few minutes. Hyperloop One is looking to bring high speed transportation to the Midwest with futuristic tube technology. We'll take a look at how the project is coming along and what the next steps will be.

Also, a look at how Facebook is changing its News Feed feature and Russell Holly joins us to talk about the latest in tech industry and retail news.