The announcement of the arrival of a European test center for the Hyperloop has been welcomed by many in Groningen, but local residents in the Meerstad district are less enthusiastic
Translated by Hans de Preter
After an information meeting in Scharmer (attended by around 200 people), it became clear that local residents are concerned about what exactly the project can and will mean for them. Many of the visitors on the evening said they felt they were informed too late about the plans for the arrival of the center by the municipality of Groningen, the province of Groningen and initiator, the Hardt company.
Many attendees appeared to have concerns about noise nuisance, loss of value of homes, damage to the landscape or possible traffic nuisance, if indeed 100,000 visitors would come to the new hyperloop test center per year.
The municipality of Groningen was unable to answer these questions. Alderman Paul de Rook indicated that an extensive step-by-step plan will be checked in the procedure. “The municipality wants to realise a proper integration of the hyperloop, together with the local residents. The wishes of local residents will also be given a place in this. We will make these plans in the coming six months. After the summer of 2020 we hope to present the plan”, De Rook said.
Image: the Hyperloop launch in 2016. Image via Flickr user Kevin Krejci. License here.
