Elon Musk's Boring Co. to Start Tunneling Under the Las Vegas Convention Center
Boring Co., the tunneling company started by Elon Musk, will begin tunneling under the Las Vegas Convention Center this week as the convention center gears up to be the first to have an underground transportation system.
According to media reports, Musk's tunneling company will begin work on its first commercial project Friday (15 November), drilling under the convention center to create a people-mover transit system that will cost nearly $50 million.
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Self-driving vehicles will transport people under the convention center
The transit system will rely on self-driving vehicles that will whisk people two and fro the 200-acre convention center in about one minute. As it stands, convention-goers have to walk about two miles to cover the entire convention center, driving the need for an on-property guest transport system.
Under the plan, Boring Co. will develop two vehicular tunnels, a pedestrian tunnel, and three stations equipped with elevators and escalators, all underground. The transit hub will be equipped with WiFi, a public address system, lighting, power, video surveillance and other technology you would expect at a commuting hub.
When announcing the deal in March LVCVA said the project has the potential to connect the convention center with the Las Vegas Boulevard Resort Corridor, McCarran International Airport and beyond that. The system will have a potential capacity of up to 11,000 passengers each hour.
Tunnels should be ready for CES 2021
The aim is to have the system completed by January of 2021 just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show, the annual technology showcase that draws millions of people to Las Vegas at the start of the New Year.
“Las Vegas has maintained its reputation as a leading travel destination because we are driven by innovation and hospitality,” said LVCVA CEO and President, Steve Hill said in a press release at the time. “This project is an example of how our leading principles can create an experience benefitting our community and valued visitors.”