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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Las Vegas Convention Center Loop
The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop (LVCC Loop) is a transportation system at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Operating since 2021, the system uses Tesla Model 3 cars to shuttle passengers between five stations. Initial construction was carried out by The Boring Company from 2019 to 2021, with intermittent tunnel drilling for future stations continuing through the early and mid-2020s.

The Boring Company machine in 2019
A Tesla Model 3 car, like the ones used in the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop

History

The Boring Company won the contract in May 2019. The Boring Company's contract was for $48.7 million. The Boring Company first tunnel was started 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. The Boring Company's second tunnel was finished in May 2020.

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-time of about two minutes. In July 2021 the peak passenger flow was recorded at 1,355 passengers per hour.

In February 2024, following investigation, the Boring Company was issued eight violations and fined $112,000. by OSHA, which the company is contesting. Subsequently, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has assumed an active safety monitoring role in the project. That April, the Boring Company was named among the "Dirty Dozen" workplace safety offenders by the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health.

System

The transportation system consists of twin tunnels in which Tesla cars are driven by employees to shuttle passengers to stops at the Las Vegas Convention Center complex and Las Vegas transportation connections. The loop cost $53 million when it opened in June 2021 and is 40 feet (12 m) below ground. The two below-ground stations have 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.

Stations

Future Stops

There are additional phases planned; the completed phase there will have about 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. The next planned expansion was for tunnels to the Encore and Westgate resorts.

The Boring Company tunnel boring machine, Prufrock-2, was drilling toward Encore on Las Vegas Boulevard, and had tunneled to Westgate on Paradise Road in 2023. In April 2024, the Boring Company announced the Westgate station would be opening soon. Also in April 2024, it was reported that the next tunnel began construction, to connect the convention center to a station located at 3150 Paradise Road. In May 2024, a Las Vegas Loop tunnel was drilled to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, one of four such tunnels prepared for additional future Tesla transportation system stations.

Connections

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

The Loop connects to the Las Vegas Monorail at the Boingo Station, LV Monorail 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, RTC 119 and Las Vegas Deuce.

See also