Elon Musk's Boring Company has outlined a multi-phase expansion for the Vegas Loop underground transportation system, focusing on connections to Harry Reid International Airport and broader city integration. The plans include new tunnels, an increased Tesla fleet, and eventual introduction of higher-capacity Robovans. President Steve Davis shared updates on timelines and permitting challenges during recent testing.
The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, is advancing its Vegas Loop project with a four-phase rollout aimed at enhancing connectivity in Las Vegas. Currently operational since 2021, the system has transported over three million passengers using a fleet of Tesla vehicles in underground tunnels. The expansion targets a full buildout of 68 miles of tunnels serving 104 stations across the Strip, downtown Las Vegas, and other areas.
Phase 1 began last month, enabling service from the airport to existing stations at Resorts World, Encore, Westgate, and the Las Vegas Convention Center. With 100 of the current 130 Teslas equipped with required transponders, the company is conducting 50 test rides per day. Passengers currently travel through tunnels before completing the journey on surface streets. A 2.25-mile Airport Connector tunnel is slated to open later this month or early next year, though it will still require about one mile of above-ground travel to terminals. Davis described a fully underground airport station as the long-term 'Holy Grail,' without a specific timeline.
Phase 2 involves a 2.2-mile dual-direction tunnel from Westgate to a station at 4744 Paradise Road, followed by surface travel via Paradise Road and University Center Drive. This will eliminate two miles of current above-ground routing and raise speeds to 60 mph on the University Center Loop, up from 35 mph in the convention area. The fleet will expand to 160 vehicles upon completion, expected in the next couple of months.
Phase 3 extends the tunnel to 5032 Palo Verde Road near Terminal 1, bypassing a stoplight at Tropicana Avenue and University Center Drive. Planned stations include Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and sites for a Boring Company apartment complex. The fleet will grow to 250-300 Teslas.
The project requires over 600 building permits, with Clark County approvals taking about six months and new permits issued every one to two weeks. The first permit from the city of Las Vegas is anticipated next week, enabling work north of Sahara Avenue to the Strat, with extensions to Fremont Street and Circa’s Garage Mahal. Strip construction could start in fall 2026 and finish in 2027, while downtown, Chinatown, Allegiant Stadium, and southern areas follow in 2028 or 2029.
Upon full completion, the fleet could reach 1,200 vehicles, incorporating Tesla Robovans for large events to handle higher passenger loads efficiently. Davis noted, “The second you have four (passengers), and you have to start stopping, the best thing you can do is put your smallest vehicle in, which is a car.” Musk unveiled the Robovan at Tesla’s 'We, Robot' event in October 2024, stating, “We want to change the look of the roads. The future should look like the future.”
The company also plans one-mile demo tunnels in Henderson and Summerlin post-buildout and expressed interest in hyperloop connections to Reno and Phoenix.
While promising, the Vegas Loop has faced challenges, including over 800 environmental infractions cited by Nevada regulators in the past two years and workplace safety issues, such as an incident scarring two firefighters with toxic chemicals—citations later rescinded after intervention by Boring Company President Steve Davis. A ride in the system reveals a smooth, traffic-free experience in white tunnels lit with multi-colored lights, though popularity and full integration remain key questions.
