The Boring Company, the Elon Musk-founded firm that “creates safe, fast-to-dig, and low-cost transportation, utility, and freight tunnels,” received approval to expand its Vegas Loop project from Clark County Commissioners in Nevada on Wednesday.
The expansion will add 25 miles to the underground tunnel system, creating 18 new stations to extend the network out from the Las Vegas Strip corridor. The expansion brings the total planned underground transport system to 65 miles of tunnels.
Reacting to the expansion, people called for a subway instead, but one user noted that the tunnel system will be created on the TBC’s dime and at no cost to taxpayers.
This was confirmed by TBC attorney Stephanie Allen. TechCrunch reports that the company was able to raise $675 million last year to scale projects like the Vegas Loop.
Loop has been compared to a subway system, but TBC claims it resembles an underground highway more than a subway system. And that it provides passengers a faster point-to-point transportation option. It also notes that in the express system, Loop vehicles can travel faster than regular subway cars at up to 150 mph versus up to 65 mph.
The Vegas Loop was targeting 57,000 passengers per hour before the 18 planned stations were added. The expansion is expected to significantly increase this number. Some of these stations will be placed on Las Vegas Boulevard near the airport, in Chinatown, at UNLV, Town Square Las Vegas, and Harmon Square.
According to Allen, TBC also has plans to expand the network into residential areas to the north, west and east of the strip.
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