Elon Musk Announces Approval of Hyperloop Connecting NY to DC

Elon Musk is certainly not afraid of the spotlight. The business mogul has wowed the nation in the past by taking on ambitious projects such as launching the first recycled rocket, planning to colonize Mars, and attempting to design the safest vehicle that also happens to be electric and affordable to the common citizen. 

As reported by Forbes, the serial entrepreneur has raised eyebrows once again by taking to Twitter last week, to announce that he had received verbal government approval to build a hyperloop below ground, that would connect New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. In the tweet, Musk wrote that the hyperloop will deliver cars between New York and Washington, D.C. in 29 minutes.

The hyperloop is planned to be built by The Boring Company, a Los Angeles based infrastructure and tunneling company, founded by none other than Musk himself. Musk started the company back in 2016 after he began juggling with the idea of building tunnels for travel. The concept, as of now, entails elevators, which look like parking spaces located on the side of roads, that are actually platforms that can carry a vehicle below ground, to the hyperloop rail. These platforms would then deliver the car and its passengers at very high speeds of around 150 mph through the tunnel. In another tweet Musk wrote that each city would have about a dozen platforms built alongside commercial roads.

The sub-ground hyper rail concept originally stems from Musk’s earlier 2012 vision, of an above ground tube train that he believed would be the future of travel. Musk initially envisioned above ground tubes delivering individuals housed in pods, at speeds close to 700 mph. Hyperloop One, a company also based in Los Angeles, adopted Musk's old idea and has been working to make his vision a reality. The company is looking to commercialize the hyperloop system and allow individuals to travel at the super-speeds for a fraction of the cost.

Musk’s current vision meanwhile, is focused on below ground travel, transporting people in their own vehicles through underground tunnels, at very high speeds. Musk explains that one of the main reasons this large project is necessary, is to alleviate traffic congestion in large cities. In response to a tweet asking if he is considering adding underground hyperloops in other cities as well, Musk confirms that he is evaluating loops connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco, and a loop for Texas.

There are still more questions about the project than answers. Musk did not specify who gave the verbal approval, however, he did say official approval will be given soon. It has also not been specified how the project will be funded either, which is a quite a looming question given the high cost of tunneling. For example, the Second Avenue Subway built along the East Side of Manhattan cost $4.5 billion to construct just three more stops.

It can't be ignored however, that an underground hyperloop would be an extraordinary innovation in the world of travel. Traffic congestion is an everyday issue that causes delays, and poses potential road rage car crash and pedestrian accident risks. This project would revolutionize how people travel by offering a much faster means of transportation while also greatly reducing traffic in large cities. There are still many questions about the project that Musk will hopefully answer, or tweet about, in the near future. 


Only time will tell if Elon Musk is successful in constructing an underground hyperloop. The underground hyper rail would allow for exceptionally faster transportation between cities, while alleviating traffic congestion. In the meantime however, traffic congestion is still a major problem that can cause stress for drivers and may even lead to road rage car accidents. If you have been involved in an accident caused by a reckless driver or a road rage driver, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation. 

How To Jump-start A Car

During the winter especially, citizens of Michigan experience trouble starting their cars. While the cold temperatures may cause car batteries to be drained more easily, car problems such as this occur all year round. In the event a car doesn't start, Forbes Magazine provides a step-by-step list for drivers who don't know how or for those who merely need a refresher on how to recharge the battery on their car.

Forbes' Tips On How To Jump-start A Car

1. Make sure the two cars are close to one another - preferably that the front of the cars are close. Jumper cables will only stretch so far, plus you want to eliminate any chance of tripping over the cords and detaching them. 

2. Locate the car’s battery. It is usually found under a plastic cover to the side of the engine.

3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. The positive is usually identified with a “+” sign and the negative with a “-” sign. Once the terminals are identified, attach the cables to the proper terminal, negative with negative and positive with positive, on both batteries.   

4. Start the engine of the running car. Run the engine of the car for about a minute or two while revving the engine.

5. Now try and start the car with the dead battery. If the car still refuses to start, check the cables again to see if they are properly attached, remember to be careful, it is electricity after all.  

6. Repeat. If the car does not start try jumping it again.

7. Call for service. After several attempts at starting the car and it still refuses, the only choice left is to call for help, i.e. a mechanic, tow truck, etc. 

Additional Tips To Keep In Mind

If the vehicle refuses to start or run while on the road, try to move the car to the side of the road or shoulder to avoid being hit or causing a potential car accident. Motorists could also benefit from buying and keeping flares and/or reflective hazard signs in their car to alert other drivers that they are stranded.

Lastly, It is important to remember that even if a driver successfully starts the car, it is still a good idea to have the car serviced. After all, there could be other underlying issues that prevented the car from working properly in the first place, other than a depleted battery. Therefore, Forbes advises getting a technician to check the car’s battery first and foremost, but to also check other components such as the car’s belts, hoses, wiring, and fluids. 

There is no guarantee that your car will immediately start by jump-starting it, especially if there are other factors involved in its breakdown. However, if a jump-start is all that is needed, following these tips from Forbes is a safe way to restart a battery. Of course, when in doubt, seek a professional!


Though winter has come to an end, Michigan drivers may still face situations in which their car won't start. It's smart for any driver to brush up on how to properly jump-start a car or look into purchasing a jump-starter box. If you or someone you know have been involved in a motor vehicle collision do to car problems, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC, today at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.