A Boring story: work begins on Las Vegas Convention Center's underground people mover

Elon Musk’s The Boring Company began work on the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) underground people mover this week, a multi-million dollar infrastructure project that will transport convention attendees throughout the 200-acre campus, marking the launch of the first commercial endeavor for the company.

The boring machine, which can carve out 100 feet per day, was turned on for the first time on Monday afternoon (Nov. 18), is currently 40 feet below ground. With planned upgrades, TBC hopes to increase that pace during the LVCC underground people mover’s development.

A look at the project

The $52.5 million underground people mover will include three passenger stations connecting the existing 3.2 million square-feet of convention space with the LVCC’s new 1.4 million square-foot West Hall currently under construction, part of a $1.52 billion expansion and renovation.

The innovative transportation system will allow convention attendees to be whisked across the LVCC’s 200-acre campus in just over one minute - free of charge - in all-electric Tesla vehicles capable of holding between three and 16 people. The system will be designed for ridership of at least 4,400 passengers per hour and is scalable depending on convention attendance.

When completed in January 2021, the underground people mover will be comprised of two vehicular tunnels with an expected total length of approximately one mile each. The system will have the potential in the future to expand and link key visitor attractions throughout Las Vegas, such as Downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip, McCarran International Airport and beyond.

Other essential system components include:

• An elevator/escalator system for passenger access to each station
• Pedestrian entrances, exits, coverings from the elements and landscaping
• Tunnel lighting, power and video surveillance systems
• A fully equipped control room
• Cell phone, WiFi, intercom/PA, remote data and ventilation/life safety systems

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