A view of the LVCC Central Station during a tour of Elon Musk’s underground transportation system under the Las Vegas Convention Center Friday, April 9, 2021. The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop is the first commercial endeavor for Musk’s Boring Company.
Sunday, May 7, 2023 | 2 a.m.
When the Vegas Loop underground transportation system opened in spring 2021, it had 1.7 miles of tracks and three stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center and plans to eventually add nearly 30 more miles of track linking several dozen more stations. With the blessing of the Clark County Commission, it’s poised for even more expansion.
The system now shuttles passengers across the Las Vegas Convention Center through a series of tunnels — each runs just under 1 mile — in electric Tesla vehicles, with speeds reaching up to 40 mph. It has saved conventiongoers significant time in getting across the massive convention center campus, with loop officials boasting that what would be a 45-minute walk is accomplished in a two-minute ride via the battery-powered vehicles.
The loop is a product of Elon Musk’s Boring Company, which in 2021 won approval from the commission to build a 29-mile underground track that eventually would connect 51 stations throughout the Resort Corridor, Allegiant Stadium and downtown near Fremont Street.
That footprint has now been expanded.
Last week, Clark County commissioners approved another 18 stations for a total of 69, extending the underground tunnels another 29 miles.
A sampling: Stations are scheduled for UNLV, near Chinatown at Spring Mountain Road and Valley View Boulevard, and a pair of stops on Las Vegas Boulevard South — at Town Square and on Blue Diamond Road.
Once fully operational, it could transform travel in the Resort Corridor, especially for the millions of visitors arriving here annually. For instance, it would take passengers five minutes to travel the 4.9 miles from Harry Reid International Airport to the convention center with a fare of $10.
From downtown Las Vegas to the airport, it would be $12 for an eight-minute ride, said a representative from the Boring Company.
The loop would also connect with Allegiant Stadium for Raiders games and other large-scale events, including the Super Bowl slated for next February.
It’s a simple strategy: Take traffic underground, or “come dig with us,” as Boring officials frequently say.
“We very much appreciate this commission’s vision and belief in this project, and we’re extremely excited to proceed with this map,” Stephanie Allen, the attorney representing the Boring Company, told commissioners. “This is not your normal project, as you can imagine.”
The commission approved the enhanced project on a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick the lone no.
Other potential stops lie outside of Clark County’s jurisdiction, including Area 15, Palace Station, the Medical Center District on Charleston Boulevard, World Market Center and Symphony Park. Those need to be approved by the Las Vegas City Council.
Kirkpatrick said she was “torn” about supporting the new Vegas Loop map because the project seemed to leave out local residents, specifically those who work on the Strip.
“When we talk about a long-term transit system, that includes the employees that have to get to the Strip,” Kirkpatrick said. “At the end of the day, a lot of those red lines are our major arterials on how people access, so I would hope that there’s long-term conversations on what that looks like so that we can ensure that (residents) can access it, not just the tourists.”
Allen responded that the goal was to first get the Vegas Loop fully operational, then find ways to serve both residents and tourists.
Kirkpatrick also had concerns about the Boring Company building stations at the airport, even if the Federal Aviation Administration gives its approval, because of the vast amount of development adjacent to airport property.
Allen assured commissioners the Boring Company would continue to collaborate with Rosemary Vassiliadis, the airport’s director of aviation, to ensure everything is done within FAA regulations.
Allen also reminded commissioners that the cost wouldn’t fall on taxpayers. The Boring Company is covering the cost of the routes, with property owners paying to have stations on their sites, she said.
UNLV in March gained approval from the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Board of Regents to complete the sale of a 1.3-acre parcel near the Thomas & Mack Center used for parking to the Boring Company for a station on campus.
Rides will cost $6 to $12 and connect students to Allegiant Stadium in its initial stage, but the university is negotiating with the Boring Company to secure reduced rates for UNLV students, faculty and staff, UNLV President Keith Whitfield said in March.
The UNLV station is expected to be finished by late 2023, said Tyler Fairbanks, head of project development for the Boring Company.
Allen stressed to commissioners the intention to keep rates reasonable, noting a ride from downtown Las Vegas to the convention center would be $5 for the 2.8-mile trip.
“These are sample fares because the system is not yet operational to this extent, but these are an idea of what is contemplated to ensure these fares remain low, and obviously are quick and efficient for the passengers, and safe,” Allen said.
Only two loop systems currently exist in Las Vegas, an almost 2-mile track with four stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center and a connector from the convention center to Resorts World. The Boring Company is in the process of fully connecting the two tracks.
The original $52.5 million tunnel system at the convention center features 12-foot-wide tunnels with colorful LED lights and a fleet of 62 Teslas circling around. The system is designed to transport up to 4,400 people per hour in more than 60 cars under the 200-acre campus.
And in March, it hit a milestone with its 1 millionth rider — someone headed to the opening day of the CONEXPO/CON-AGG, which is billed as North America’s largest construction industry trade show.
With additional tracks and stations in the works, there’s no telling how many visitors use the underground option when commuting around the Strip — and beyond.
When Resort World Las Vegas debuted it station last June, tourism officials saw the same vision, with Steve Hill — president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority — saying in a statement that “this milestone is an important step in the development of a game-changing transportation solution in Las Vegas.”
