The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Elon Musk’s The Boring Company (TBC) have begun work on an underground people mover at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) that will transport convention attendees throughout the 200-acre campus. The project is TBC’s first commercial endeavor.
The boring machine is currently 40 feet below ground and the engines have been turned on for the first time. Attendees at the launch event were treated to an exclusive underground tour of the boring machine, which can reportedly carve out 100 feet per day. TBC said that it hopes to increase that pace with planned upgrades during the LVCC underground people mover’s development. The LVCVA Board of Directors approved the contract on May 22.
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, which is currently under construction as part of a $1.52 billion expansion and renovation. The new transportation system will allow convention attendees to traverse the LVCC's 200-acre campus in just over one minute 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. Rides will be free of charge.
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, officials said.
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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