The Hyperloop is another piece in the puzzle of trying to rescue ourselves from environmental devastation, and its wide application would also make Elon Musk one of the most important industrialists ever. I want it right now, though I have concerns about the mesh network at work building it. Musk is trying to enable the teams that aspire to realize it by constructing a five-mile test track. From Mike Ramsey at the WSJ:

Entrepreneur Elon Musk said he is planning to construct a 5-mile test “loop” for his Hyperloop high-speed transit concept and then offer it to companies and students for use in developing the technology.

Mr. Musk said the track likely would be in Texas—a place where he is trying hard to generate good will. He proposed 18 months ago a system that could travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 30 minutes, achieving nearly Mach 1 speeds. …

“Will be building a Hyperloop test track for companies and student teams to test out their pods. Most likely in Texas,” he said in Twitter posts. Mr. Musk also spoke Thursday at the Texas Transportation Forum. “Also thinking of having an annual student Hyperloop pod racer competition, like Formula SAE.”•