Engineering:Vegas Loop

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Short description: Car tunnel system in Winchester, Nevada

Vegas Loop
Overview
Other name(s)
  • LVCC Loop
  • Vegas Loop
StatusOperating hours coincide with events at Convention Center[1]
No. of stations8
Operation
OpenedJune 1, 2021; 4 years ago (2021-06-01)
Owner
  • The Boring Company (outside of LVCC)
  • Las Vegas Convention Center
  • Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (within LVCC)
TrafficPassenger shuttle only
CharacterUnderground car shuttle private roadway
Technical
Length2.2 miles (3.5 km)
No. of lanes1
Operating speed35 mph (56 km/h)
Route map
Template:LVCCLoop

The Vegas Loop, originally known as the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop (LVCC Loop) is a car tunnel system that serves the Las Vegas Convention Center and area hotels. Operating since 2021, the system uses Tesla Model Y vehicles to shuttle passengers among nine stations. The Boring Company began construction in November 2019,[2] and has since continued intermittent tunnel drilling for planned stations.[3]

History

The Boring Company machine in 2019

The Boring Company won a $48.7 million contract in May 2019 from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).[4] and began drilling the first tunnel on November 15, 2019, digging at about 49 feet (15 m) per day. The 4,475 feet (1,364 m) first leg tunnel was completed on February 14, 2020.[5][6] The second tunnel was finished that May,[7] for a total of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) of tunnels.[8] The tunnel opened in October 2021.[9] Standard Tesla vehicles with human drivers are used as shuttles, traveling at about 35 miles per hour (56 km/h).[10] The service was described by Las Vegas Tourism as "an important step in the development of a game-changing transportation solution in Las Vegas".[11]

The Boring Company started testing the system with volunteers in May 2021. The test demonstrated the new transport system could move up to about 4,400 passengers per hour with an end-to-end time of about two minutes. The system started transporting convention attendees on June 8, 2021.[12] In July 2021, the peak passenger flow was recorded at 1,355 passengers per hour.[13][14][15] Designed to solve traffic congestion, the tunnel was intended to provide trips of less than two minutes,[16] but has faced a number of traffic jams during busy events in 2021 and 2022.[9][17][18][19]

In October 2021, Clark County Commissioners approved a 50-year franchise agreement for a 52-stop, mostly-underground system, a "16-mile (26 km) dual loop system...operating mainly in the Resort Corridor with stations at various resorts and connections to Allegiant Stadium, Brightline West Las Vegas Station, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas".[20] TBC planned to build five to ten stations during the first year, and then add approximately 16 stations per year thereafter.[20] TBC was responsible for funding the tunnel, while station costs would be funded by the resort properties and landowners.[21]

The tunnel to Resorts World Las Vegas opened in July 2022.[22][23]

In May 2023, TBC was given permission to build the Vegas Loop underground transportation system to 69 stations for a tunnel network of 65 miles (105 km).[24][25][26] It would include the existing LVCC Loop and extensions to casinos along the Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and downtown Las Vegas. TBC claims that once complete, the Vegas Loop would be able to transport more than 90,000 passengers per hour.[27]

In February 2024, Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found several safety violations at TBC, and fined it $112,000.[28] The violations included eight serious violations from June to October 2023 and allegations that workers have faced chemical burns from sludge while working in the tunnels.[28] Numerous employee accounts described the working conditions as "almost unbearable".[29] The company challenged the ruling.[28] In March 2024, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors voted to extend the existing tunnel, and vowed to address concerns that arose over the OSHA violations.[30][31] In April 2024, the Boring Company work in Las Vegas was named among the "Dirty Dozen", the worst workplace safety offenders in the US, by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.[32]

It has been speculated that the Boring Company may be subsidizing the Loop to keep customer prices low. A day pass from Resorts World costs $5, while the LVCVA is paying the Boring Company an additional $4.5 million annually, which equates to $7.50 per ride.[33]

Nevada's occupational safety agency fined the company $400,000 on May 28, 2025, after two firefighters endured chemical burns while in Loop tunnels during a training exercise. The fines were "summarily rescinded" the following day, at a meeting of Boring president Steve Davis with "high-ranking state officials".[34]

On October 28, 2025, Boring was served a notice of violation and fined almost $500,000 for "dumping apparent drill fluid" into the sewer system of the Clark County Water Reclamation District, beginning April 21, 2025.[35]

System

The transportation system consists of tunnels and surface roads which are used by Tesla cars, driven by employees, to shuttle passengers to stops at the Las Vegas Convention Center complex and Las Vegas transportation connections.[36] The loop cost $53 million when it opened in June 2021 and is 40 feet (12 m) below ground. Passengers reach the two below-ground stations with escalators and elevators. The loop is 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in length and covers a 25-minute walking distance. The plan is for the cars to be autonomous vehicles in the future.[7]

Stations

Station Opened Grade Location
Westgate January 22, 2025[37] At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°08′09″N 115°09′09″W / 36.13576012031452°N 115.15239479762°W / 36.13576012031452; -115.15239479762167
Resorts World July 11, 2022[38] At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°08′00″N 115°09′59″W / 36.133389°N 115.166444°W / 36.133389; -115.166444
LVCC Rivera July 11, 2022[38] At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°08′09″N 115°09′35″W / 36.13585468948624°N 115.15959524287°W / 36.13585468948624; -115.15959524286671
LVCC West June 1, 2021 At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°07′59″N 115°09′35″W / 36.13306691851332°N 115.1597739963°W / 36.13306691851332; -115.15977399630269
LVCC Central (Underground) June 1, 2021 Below Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°07′53″N 115°09′10″W / 36.131306°N 115.152700°W / 36.131306; -115.152700
LVCC Central (Plaza) April 8, 2025[39] At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°07′51″N 115°09′12″W / 36.130912417572716°N 115.15323499001°W / 36.130912417572716; -115.15323499000624
LVCC South June 1, 2021 At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°07′41″N 115°08′48″W / 36.128194°N 115.146588°W / 36.128194; -115.146588
Encore April 8, 2025[39] At Grade [ ⚑ ] 36°07′46″N 115°09′48″W / 36.12931828211026°N 115.16345914375°W / 36.12931828211026; -115.16345914374801
Fontainebleau February 3, 2026[40]

Future stops

There are additional phases planned; the completed system will consist of 68 miles (109 km) of tunnels and 55 stops, including stops at Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, the Oakland A's future Las Vegas Stadium, Brightline West Las Vegas Station, UNLV, and downtown Las Vegas.[41][42][43][44]

In April 2024, it was reported that the next tunnel began construction, to connect the convention center to a station located near the Thomas & Mack Center.[45] Tunneling operations were completed in September 2024.[46]

In May 2024, a tunnel was drilled to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.[3]

Connections

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Las Vegas Monorail station above East Desert Inn Road, a loop connection

The Loop connects to the Las Vegas Monorail at the Convention Center station at the corner of Paradise Road and East Desert Inn Road at an Island above East Desert Inn Road. Buses that are near the Loop and Las Vegas Convention Center are the: RTC 108,[47] RTC 119[48] and Las Vegas Deuce.[49][50]

Controversies

Workers have complained of chemical burns from the waste material generated by the tunneling process, and firefighters must decontaminate their equipment after conducting rescues from the project sites. The company was fined more than $112,000 by Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration in late 2023 after workers complained of “ankle-deep” water in the tunnels, muck spills and burns.[51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Vegas Loop". The Boring Company. https://lvloop.com/operating-hours. 
  2. ↑ Romero, Dennis (November 16, 2019). "In Las Vegas, Elon Musk's tunneling company digs in" (in en). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/las-vegas-elon-musk-s-tunneling-company-digs-n1084131. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Las Vegas Loop tunnel reaches Virgin Hotel near UNLV, company announces on X". 8 News Now (Nexstar Media). https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-loop-tunnel-reaches-virgin-hotel-near-unlv-company-announces-on-x/. 
  4. ↑ Bliss, Laura (2019-05-29). "Elon Musk's $49 Million Las Vegas Loop Makes Perfect Sense — for Las Vegas". https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-29/las-vegas-to-elon-musk-tesla-tunnel-we-ll-take-2. 
  5. ↑ "Boring Company's Las Vegas Tunnel Excavation Has Finally Been Completed" (in en-US). 2020-02-17. https://interestingengineering.com/boring-companys-las-vegas-tunnel-excavation-has-finally-been-completed. 
  6. ↑ Velotta, Richard N. (2020-02-14). "1st tunnel completed for Las Vegas Convention Center's people-mover". https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/1st-tunnel-completed-for-las-vegas-convention-centers-people-mover-1957613/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 O'Kane, Sean (2020-05-14). "Elon Musk's Boring Company finishes digging Las Vegas tunnels" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/14/21257849/elon-musk-boring-company-las-vegas-tunnel-finished-digging. 
  8. ↑ Reilly, Claire. "Elon Musk's Boring Loop transports first passengers in Vegas" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musks-boring-loop-is-finally-transporting-passengers-in-las-vegas/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cao, Sissi (2021-06-10). "Elon Musk's Vegas Boring Tunnel Is a Disappointment, But Cities Are Eager to Have It". https://observer.com/2021/06/elon-musk-boring-company-open-vegas-tunnel-experts-skeptic/. 
  10. ↑ Vaughn, Mark (2021-04-12). "Elon Musk's Boring Company Completes First Mile-Long Vegas Tunnel" (in en-US). https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a36090539/elon-musk-boring-company-first-mile/. 
  11. ↑ Hahn, Jennifer (2022-07-01). "Elon Musk's The Boring Company opens first station in expanded Las Vegas transit tunnel system" (in en). https://www.dezeen.com/2022/07/01/vegas-loop-boring-company-station-opening-news/. 
  12. ↑ Velotta, Richard N. (2021-06-08). "Boring Co.'s underground loop begins moving customers in Las Vegas" (in en-US). Las Vegas Review-Journal. https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/conventions/world-of-concrete/boring-co-s-underground-loop-begins-moving-customers-in-las-vegas-2373190/. 
  13. ↑ Wang, Brian (2021-05-29). "Vegas Boring Loop Surpasses 4400 Passengers Per Hour Target in Testing". https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2021/05/vegas-boring-loop-surpasses-4400-passengers-per-hour-target-in-testing.html. 
  14. ↑ Velotta, Richard N. (2021-06-08). "Boring Co.'s underground loop begins moving customers in Las Vegas" (in en-US). Las Vegas Review-Journal. https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/conventions/world-of-concrete/boring-co-s-underground-loop-begins-moving-customers-in-las-vegas-2373190/. 
  15. ↑ Harris, Mark (2021-11-12). "Early data shows Elon Musk's Las Vegas Loop not yet up to speed" (in en-US). https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/12/early-data-from-elon-musks-las-vegas-loop-shows-a-slower-yet-popular-service/. 
  16. ↑ "Elon Musk firm proposing 'Vegas Loop' tunnel people mover". 2020-10-14. https://apnews.com/article/technology-las-vegas-elon-musk-spacex-c742550d37eb452d09ef467bf7953da4. 
  17. ↑ "Elon Musk's The Boring Company opens first station in expanded Las Vegas transit tunnel system" (in en). 2022-07-01. https://www.dezeen.com/2022/07/01/vegas-loop-boring-company-station-opening-news/. 
  18. ↑ Cole, Samantha (2022-01-07). "Traffic Jams Are Possible in Elon Musk's Tunnels, Apparently". https://www.vice.com/en/article/traffic-jams-are-possible-in-elon-musks-tunnels-apparently/. 
  19. ↑ Kilander, Gustaf (2022-01-07). "Elon Musk's 'Vegas Loop' called a 'death trap' as traffic piles up". https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-vegas-loop-traffic-b1988974.html. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Akers, Mick (20 October 2021). "Underground travel in Strip, stadium areas moves closer to reality". Las Vegas Review-Journal. https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/traffic/underground-travel-in-strip-stadium-areas-moves-closer-to-reality-2463119/. 
  21. ↑ Underground people mover could link to Allegiant Stadium next year , Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10 June 2021
  22. ↑ Lilly, Caitlin (2020-06-09). "Resorts World, Wynn Las Vegas submit plans for passenger stations for Boring Company's underground people mover". https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/resorts-world-wynn-las-vegas-submit-plans-for-passenger-stations-for-boring-companys-underground-people/article_87764e4a-aa73-11ea-b006-2366fa12538b.html. 
  23. ↑ Akers, Mick (2020-06-09). "Underground people mover ready to expand to Strip resorts". https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/underground-people-mover-ready-to-expand-to-strip-resorts-2049071/. 
  24. ↑ "Expanded Vegas Loop plans advance with commission approval". Las Vegas Sun. 13 June 2023. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2023/jun/13/vegas-loop-plans-expand-further-with-green-light-f/. 
  25. ↑ "Vegas Loop expansion: County approves plan to build 69 underground stations". 5 May 2023. https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/boring-company-expand-vegas-loop. 
  26. ↑ "Elon Musk's The Boring Company seeks to double the size of its Vegas Loop". 21 March 2023. https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/21/elon-musks-the-boring-company-seeks-to-double-the-size-of-its-vegas-loop/. 
  27. ↑ Bellan, Rebecca (2023-05-03). "Musk's The Boring Company to expand Vegas Loop to 18 new stations". https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/03/musks-the-boring-company-to-expand-vegas-loop-to-18-new-stations/. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Lane, Tiffany (2024-02-27). "Nevada OSHA finds multiple safety violations at Elon Musk's Boring Company tunnel worksite" (in en). https://news3lv.com/news/local/nevada-osha-finds-multiple-safety-violations-at-elon-musks-boring-company-tunnel-worksite. 
  29. ↑ "'We have consistently flirted with death': Elon Musk wanted the Boring Co. to build a tunnel system below Las Vegas. Former employees say they feared for their lives while working there.". 2024-02-27. https://fortune.com/2024/02/27/flirted-death-elon-musk-boring-company-employees-injuries-osha-citations/. 
  30. ↑ Nomura, Andrew (2024-03-12). "Elon Musk's Vegas Loop extension greenlit despite OSHA fines and worker concerns". https://news3lv.com/news/local/lvcva-votes-extend-vegas-loop-amid-workplace-concerns. 
  31. ↑ "The CEO of the Las Vegas agency behind Boring Company's first tunnel system says his team will be 'more involved' after safety incidents". 2024-03-12. https://fortune.com/2024/03/12/ceo-las-vegas-agency-boring-company-safety-tunnels/. 
  32. ↑ Gentry, Dana (April 30, 2024). "Musk's Boring Company makes list of 'Dirty Dozen' workplace safety offenders". Nevada Current. https://nevadacurrent.com/briefs/musks-boring-company-makes-list-of-dirty-dozen-workplace-safety-offenders/. 
  33. ↑ "There's trouble below at Elon Musk's Boring Co.". 2023-11-20. https://fortune.com/2023/11/20/elon-musk-boring-company-las-vegas-tunnels-former-employee-interviews/. 
  34. ↑ Mathews, Jessica; Schwartz, Leo (2025-11-12). "Two firefighters suffered chemical burns in a Boring Co. tunnel. Then the Nevada Governor’s office got involved, and the penalties disappeared". https://fortune.com/2025/11/12/elon-musk-boring-company-tunnels-injuries-osha-citations-fines-rescinded-nevada-governor-office-documents-altered/. 
  35. ↑ Akers, Mick (2025-11-13). "‘Brazen refusal to stop’: Musk’s Boring Co. fined nearly $500K for illegal dumping". https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/clark-county/clark-county-fines-boring-co-nearly-500k-for-illegal-dumping-3568600/. 
  36. ↑ Velotta, Richard N. (2021-06-08). "Boring Co.'s underground loop begins moving customers in Las Vegas" (in en-US). Las Vegas Review-Journal. https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/conventions/world-of-concrete/boring-co-s-underground-loop-begins-moving-customers-in-las-vegas-2373190/. 
  37. ↑ Moreno-Meza, Fidel (2025-01-22). "Vegas Loop opens at Westgate Las Vegas, promising swift rides despite safety concerns" (in en). https://news3lv.com/news/local/westgate-las-vegas-unveils-vegas-loop-station. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Haas, Greg (July 11, 2022). "Las Vegas Loop station opens at Resorts World on the Strip". KLAS-TV. https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-loop-station-opens-at-resorts-world-on-the-strip/. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Akers, Mick (2025-04-08). "Boring Co. opens new Strip Vegas Loop station" (in en-US). https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/traffic/boring-co-opens-new-strip-vegas-loop-station-3348640/. 
  40. ↑ "The Fontainebleau becomes Vegas Loop’s latest stop" (in en). https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Fontainebleau-becomes-Vegas-Loops-latest-stop. 
  41. ↑ "Expanded Vegas Loop plans advance with commission approval". Las Vegas Sun. 13 June 2023. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2023/jun/13/vegas-loop-plans-expand-further-with-green-light-f/. 
  42. ↑ "Vegas Loop" (in en-US). The Boring Company. https://www.boringcompany.com/vegas-loop. 
  43. ↑ "Vegas Loop expansion: County approves plan to build 69 underground stations". 5 May 2023. https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/boring-company-expand-vegas-loop. 
  44. ↑ "Elon Musk's The Boring Company seeks to double the size of its Vegas Loop". 21 March 2023. https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/21/elon-musks-the-boring-company-seeks-to-double-the-size-of-its-vegas-loop/. 
  45. ↑ "Vegas Loop begins boring operations for station near UNLV" (in en-US). 2024-04-15. https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/vegas-loop-begins-boring-operations-for-station-near-unlv-3033992/. 
  46. ↑ The Boring Company [@boringcompany]. "Prufrock-3 Breakthrough! 12 weeks after completing the Cybertunnel at Giga Texas, Prufrock-3 has completed its first tunnel in Las Vegas! Next Prufrock-3 launch (after upgrading several systems to the Prufrock-4 spec), scheduled for October 30.". https://twitter.com/boringcompany/status/1831898124690031008.  Missing or empty |date= (help)
  47. ↑ "Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada 108". https://rtcws.rtcsnv.com/routepdf/108.pdf. 
  48. ↑ "Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada 119". https://rtcws.rtcsnv.com/routepdf/119.pdf. 
  49. ↑ "Fares & Passes". Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. https://www.rtcsnv.com/ways-to-travel/fares-passes/. 
  50. ↑ "Buses on the Strip in Las Vegas (RTC, The Deuce and More) - OnTheStrip.com". December 29, 2021. https://www.onthestrip.com/services/deuce-vegas-buses-on-the-strip/. 
  51. ↑ Damon, Anjeanette; Figler, Dayvid (10 October 2025). "Elon Musk’s Boring Co. Accused of Nearly 800 Environmental Violations on Las Vegas Project". ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/elon-musk-boring-company-violations-fines-vegas-loop. 

[ ⚑ ] 36°07′53″N 115°09′10″W / 36.13131°N 115.1529°W / 36.13131; -115.1529 Template:Las Vegas Strip Template:Las Vegas Valley



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