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For First Time, Federal Lawmakers Gather in Support of Hyperloop Technology on Capitol Hill

Washington, D.C., October 16, 2019
Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO), the only hyperloop company in the world to successfully test its technology at scale, was on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. today showcasing its XP-1 test pod as part of its national roadshow to introduce the promise of hyperloop technology to people across the United States.

As the company continues to broaden bipartisan support of its revolutionary transportation technology, Representatives from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Troy Balderson (OH-12) and Bruce Westerman (AK-4), and Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), Congressman Bob Gibbs (OH-7), and Congressman Billy Long (MO-7) today joined Virgin Hyperloop One Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Josh Giegel in calling for greater support of innovative mass transit technology across the United States.

“With hyperloop, we are launching the first new mode of mass transportation in over 100 years: one that is faster, cleaner and cheaper than ever before. When private innovators work hand in hand with lawmakers and policymakers at all levels of government, innovation thrives,” said Josh Giegel, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Hyperloop One. “We are proud to have support from these federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, all who recognize that the future of our national, regional, and local economies hinges on advancing new, efficient forms of mass transit.”

“My community had the Wright Brothers. They came here [to Washington D.C.] and flew their new flying machine over the Capitol and the White House. Today you bring hyperloop to show us the next advance in transportation,” said Congressman Mike Turner.

“It’s like a plane, it’s like a train, but it’s really neither one. Congress needs to act to come up with ways to develop safety protocols [for hyperloop]” said Congressman Bruce Westerman.

“To go from Columbus to Chicago in 45 minutes is a big deal,” said Congressman Troy Balderson. “I look forward to working with you and your team to get this done.”

“I’ve taken 60 of my constituents out to see this project. We’re really excited to be able to go from Kansas City to Columbia, Missouri – a little over 100 miles – in 15 minutes,” said Congressman Billy Long. “Technology like this is right around the corner.”

“Columbus to DC in about 30 minutes – that’s just a revolution of the transportation system,” said Congressman Bob Gibbs. “[Hyperloop] will connect all our metro urban centers in a really efficient way and will change the way we go about our daily business.”

Building off of the momentum of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao’s newly-formed Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council to support new and innovative transportation projects like hyperloop and self-driving cars, Virgin Hyperloop One’s visit to Capitol Hill highlighted current U.S. hyperloop developments, including in Ohio, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas, and provided updates on making these projects a reality.

The vision of the NETT Council is to develop and establish department-wide processes, solutions, and best practices to identify and manage non-traditional and emerging transportation technologies, to provide assistance to local and state governments, and to conduct research to better understand the safety and regulatory needs of these technologies. In May 2019, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) toured VHO’s full-scale test track outside of Las Vegas, adding him to the list of local and state officials who have shown interest in Virgin Hyperloop One’s technology.

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