It’s official: The Boring Company to develop Chicago-O’Hare express loop

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
image description
A rendering of the Block 37 Chicago Express Loop station. The Boring Company aims to deliver 12-minute rides between downtown Chicago and O’Hare. Image Credit: The Boring Company
The Boring Company

Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) and the city of Chicago have selected The Boring Company to bring faster transit service between downtown and O’Hare International Airport a reality.

The Chicago Express Loop will shuttle passengers between O’Hare and Block 37 in downtown Chicago in a 12-minute trip.

The travel time will be three to four times faster than other transportation options currently available.

The Chicago Express Loop will consist of high-speed electric skates that are modified Tesla Model X chassis. The autonomous electric skates will carry either a single passenger or between 8 and 16 passengers at speeds ranging from 125 to 150 miles per hour.

The Boring Company says the electric skates could run as frequent as every 30 seconds. The Chicago Express Loop will be 100 percent privately financed and will operate 20 hours per day, every day of the week.

The Boring Company says it “aims to alleviate soul-destroying traffic by constructing safe, affordable and environmentally-friendly public transportation systems.”

The company was one of two teams selected in March to submit proposals by CIT, which was intent on delivering an express service option between downtown Chicago and O’Hare.

The current total daily number of passengers traveling between O’Hare and the Chicago Central Business District is currently about 20,000. The city said it expects that number to grow to at least 35,000 daily passengers by 2045.

 

Tags: , ,

Media