LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — There will be more Boring Company tunnels under Las Vegas as the Elon Musk-founded company has received approval to extend its transportation system.
Clark County officials announced Tuesday that the “Vegas Loop” underground transportation system had been approved for 18 new stations and approximately 25 miles of tunnels.
Among the new stations on a map released Wednesday:
- Palace Station
- Town Square
- Blue Diamond Road at Las Vegas Boulevard
- Las Vegas Boulevard at Harmon Avenue
- Area 15
- Symphony Park
- LV Premium Outlets
- Medical Center District (near UMC)
- The English Hotel
- El Cortez
- Spring Mountain Road at Valley View Boulevard
- Thomas & Mack Center
- UNLV Housing and several other campus stations
The current operational section of the Vegas Loop is a three-station tunnel spanning 1.7 miles at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“LVCC Loop connects the LVCC New Exhibit Hall with the existing campus (North/Central/South Halls), and reduces a 45-minute cross-campus walk time to approximately 2 minutes,” said the Boring Company’s website.
The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, has plans that will include areas of Clark County, as well as Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Loop’s construction so far has been in Clark County’s jurisdiction, but the City of Las Vegas will likely start working on plans this summer, according to spokesman Jace Radke.
“The company is still working on its expansion plans into the city of Las Vegas jurisdiction. These plans will likely come before the City Council sometime this summer,” Radke said. “They have not started any construction in the city at this point.”
Tourists that 8 News Now spoke with said they’d use it but disagreed if it’s a good investment.
“I think I would use it. I don’t know if it would be cost-effective to build tunnels. There are probably more cost-effective things to do,” Andrew Diener, visiting from Wisconsin said.
Nick Kazanowsky of Orlando said he sees the project as a window into the future.
“I think it’s just like AI, I don’t think it’s going to stop. Once we let this technology loose, it’s just going to keep growing and making our lives better,” Kazanowsky said.
The Boring Company estimates a trip from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Allegiant Stadium would take only four minutes and cost around $6.
Yet, Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick expressed her concerns.
“I just want on the record a commitment to consider the employees that have to access this very area, and as well that there be an opportunity for them to use the system as a park and ride system,” Kirkpatrick said.
The Boring Company has already been approved for six underground stops that connect areas of the convention center.
“I know I can stand here and commit to you that they are looking at opportunities in the future to expand out into the valley. Into the south, west, and east of the strip,” Stephanie Allen with the Boring Company told commissioners.
Allen said in one day, up to 32,000 people used the current underground tunnel system.
