Elon Musk's underground digging company, which the billionaire established to achieve his ambitious underground Loop transit system, is now getting the support of a major city in the United States. Las Vegas' tourism agency has announced that it is willing to gamble on Elon Musk's The Boring Company and to have it build its Loop transit system within the city.
After experiencing major setbacks in other US cities, mostly caused by city planning issues, Musk may finally be able to fulfill his dreams of building his underground transit network. The city's tourism agency had announced that it had already submitted a recommendation to the city to give Musk's company a contract to build the tunnel system. The proposed underground network will include automated electric vehicles that can transport people around the city's various mega convention centers. The plan also includes future construction of lines that may lead to the city's famous casino destinations.
If the city does give The Boring Company the green light, construction of a mile-long tunnel could begin as early as 2021. The entire cost of the underground tunnel is estimated to be somewhere north of US$35 million. Details of the project have not been finalized yet, but it will reportedly have at least three or four stations situated within major convention centers.
The fleet of vehicles running through the tunnels could also include Tesla's latest electric vehicles such as the Model X and the Model 3. A larger vehicle, with a capacity of around 16 people, could also be specially built for the tunnel. All of the vehicles within the system will reportedly be fully autonomous, which means that there will be no backup drivers present.
The tunnel transit system is expected to run through the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is one of the world's premier destination for tech gatherings. The facility is currently undergoing an expansion, which could work in favor of Musk's proposed network. The tunnel will be particularly useful within the city's mega convention centers given that more than a million people visit them each year. The president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Steve Hill, mentioned to reporters that he though Musk's plans were "innovative" and that it would basically be an attraction in and of itself.
The project in Las Vegas is also very different from the company's proposals in other major cities. If the contract is approved, Musk's company will actually be paid for building it. Most of the proposals in other cities have been met with opposition and skepticism from residents and officials, given its possible adverse effects, which could stem from digging large tunnels so far underground.
Musk and his company are expected to meet with the board responsible for approving the project this month. If approved, Musk is expected to return with a full design and proposal by June.
