Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Emerging Tech
  3. News

Hyperloop transportation routes could soon be running from Cleveland to Chicago

By
HyperloopTT Signs Agreement for Cleveland to Chicago Route

One small step for Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one giant leap for travel in middle America. This week, HyperloopTT (HTT), one of the two companies seeking to create high-speed tunnel-based transportation systems, signed an agreement that could herald a new era in the feasibility of an interstate Hyperloop system. The new deal was struck with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and also involves the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and will kick off a feasibility study for the region. Thus far, “several corridors have been identified for study connecting Cleveland to Chicago,” HTT notes in a press release.

Recommended Videos

Demand for such a high-speed transportation option in the region has been high for quite some time, as Ohio lawmakers passed a resolution to kickstart the initiative last year. And just in the past couple months, HTT has worked with congressional representatives from states including both Ohio and Illinois to send a formal letter to the White House requesting infrastructure funding support to bring a Hyperloop to life.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more

“Regulations are the ultimate barrier for Hyperloop implementation, and we are excited to build the first real public-private partnership to bring Hyperloop travel to the U.S.,” said Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of HTT. “With this agreement, we welcome innovative and industry-leading partners in both government and industry to our movement.”

HTT isn’t the only company looking to transport riders in low-pressure pods.In fact, Hyperloop One has also recently selected a Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh link as one of just 10 around the world that it would like to further explore. But for the time being, it would appear that HTT is ahead in the race. An independent engineering firm will lead the feasibility analysis on the Cleveland-Chicago route as early as March, and could take between six and 12 months. The study will ultimately determine potential routes and suss out cost, ridership, and possible station locations.

“We came here because places like Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh have the manufacturing, the raw materials and the talented, hard working people in order to make it happen,” said Andrea La Mendola, Chief Global Operations Officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. “We can source everything from this area. This is a place where you make big things.”

Lulu Chang
Lulu Chang
Former Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Topics
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more