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Virgin Hyperloop has chosen West Virginia as the venue for a 500 500 million certification center that will serve as a test track for a high-speed transportation system, the company announced Thursday.
More than a dozen states have submitted bids for the future location of the six-mile track and other facilities on more than 1,200 acres in Tucker and Grant Counties in the northeastern part of the state.
The concept of high-speed travel involves the use of closed pods to carry passengers underground at speeds over 600 miles by electromagnetic levitation transportation. The technology allows silence and fast travel.
Rendering of the slated certification center of the Virgin Hyperloop and the test track expected to be built in West Virginia.
The journey from New York to Washington will take about 30 minutes, Reuters reported. Virgin is studying the route from Chicago to Pittsburgh in an hour.
Efforts to see an economic downturn amid the downturn in the coal industry are expected to bring thousands of temporary construction jobs to West Virginia. Once completed, the facility will employ up to 200 workers.
“What we’re doing is directly bringing in a new industry where West Virginians once mined,” said Jay Verder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, during an announcement with elected officials.
Rendering of the Slated Certificate Center of the Virgin Hyperloop for construction in West Virginia.
Other states for the facility include Delaware, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, according to a company news report.
Construction on the assembly facility for capsules, safety centers and other operations is planned to begin next year. Commercial operations are at least a decade apart, the company said.
Rendering of the Slated Certificate Center of the Virgin Hyperloop for construction in West Virginia.
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It is not clear if the company received any financial incentives that made West Virginia a more attractive site. A company spokesman said the project would be funded by public and private funds.
“When we approached Virgin Hyperloop I told them we would do as much as possible to bring this opportunity to West Virginia.”
The Associated Press contributes to this report.
