Urban Transport

The Boring Company fleshes out the details for upcoming Las Vegas tunnel

The Boring Company fleshes out the details for upcoming Las Vegas tunnel
A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
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A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
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A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
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A Tesla emerges from The Boring Company's test tunnel
Potential tunnel map for the Las Vegas Convention Center
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Potential tunnel map for the Las Vegas Convention Center
Render of a waiting bay for self-driving electric vehicles for The Boring Company's transport loop
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Render of a waiting bay for self-driving electric vehicles for The Boring Company's transport loop
A plan to build an high speed underground transport loop beneath a renovated Las Vegas Convention Center is moving full steam ahead
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A plan to build an high speed underground transport loop beneath a renovated Las Vegas Convention Center is moving full steam ahead
Render of a possible self-driving electric vehicle for The Boring Company's transport loop
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Render of a possible self-driving electric vehicle for The Boring Company's transport loop
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A plan to build a high-speed underground transport loop beneath a renovated Las Vegas Convention Center is moving full steam ahead. The local tourism authority has signed off on a contract worth almost US$50 million, that will see The Boring Company design and construct a set of tunnels through which guests will travel aboard self-driving electric vehicles.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is undergoing some pretty significant renovations, and as a result its tourism authority turned to The Boring Company to come up with a transport solution for visitors to its new 200-acre (81-ha) facility. It first recommended the company's services in March, and that recommendation was then approved by the board of directors a week later.

Now the two parties have signed a contract worth $48,675,000 that gives some idea of what the tunnel system will look like. It calls for three underground passenger stations, one pedestrian tunnel and two tunnels for vehicles, with a total length of around one mile (1.6 km).

Render of a possible self-driving electric vehicle for The Boring Company's transport loop
Render of a possible self-driving electric vehicle for The Boring Company's transport loop

The other features the board describe as "essential" are an elevator or escalator for station access, tunnel lighting, power and video surveillance, a control room, cell phone coverage, Wi-Fi coverage, an intercom, plus ventilation and safety systems. It will be designed to transport at least 4,400 passengers per hour. And according to CEO Elon Musk, construction could be underway sooner rather than later.

"Boring Company starts digging Vegas tunnel in two months," he tweeted. "Aiming to finish by end of year."

Source: LVCVA

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2 comments
2 comments
paul314
A passageway wide enough for four people to walk abreast could transport more than 10,000 people an hour. Just sayin'.
Bill S.
I live in Las Vegas, and once again, this is an example of a really stupid idea that is prevalent among decision makers and politicians who can't screw up this town enough. You tax dollar at work.