Elon Musk's Boring Company Is Tunneling Beneath Las Vegas with Little Oversight
4 days ago
- #Deregulation
- #Elon Musk
- #Urban Transit
- The Vegas Loop is a 68-mile underground tunnel system being built by Elon Musk’s Boring Company in Las Vegas, using Teslas to transport passengers.
- The project avoids typical public transit regulations due to being privately funded, aligning with Musk’s belief that excessive regulation stifles innovation.
- Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority initially funded a small 0.8-mile loop, later expanding plans to 104 stations across 68 miles with minimal public debate.
- Boring Company has faced multiple regulatory violations, including unpermitted tunneling, environmental infractions like dumping untreated water, and labor safety complaints.
- The project operates with reduced oversight, as Clark County removed a special permit requiring safety inspections and incident reporting.
- Critics, including former Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, question safety, accessibility, and whether the Loop is the best transit solution for the city.
- Boring Company’s ridership claims (90,000 passengers/hour) remain untested, with no independent verification due to its private status.
- Plans to connect to Harry Reid International Airport face logistical and regulatory hurdles, with initial routes relying on surface streets.
- The Vegas Loop reflects Musk’s broader push for deregulation, now amplified by his advisory role to President-elect Donald Trump on government efficiency.