Talks are underway to completely reimagine the Las Vegas transit system, by taking things underground.
The President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released the details last week for a proposal to shuttle more people through the Las Vegas transit network. This will increase speed and make it easier for tourists to hop and skip between their favorite venues.
This is a bold plan, of course, but that is a bold city, and it is that trait that has earned its reputation as the nation’s entertainment capital. This plan is moving forward at great speed, and will certainly benefit Las Vegas.
How The Las Vegas Transit System Will Be Improved
The project, known as ‘The Vegas Loop’, is set to connect just about every resort in the city to one another. The plans and construction are being taken on by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, which has already showcased its ability to create tunnels for rapid travel.
Speaking on the move to reinvent the Las Vegas transit system, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Steve Hill stated;
“The Vegas Loop will be a game-changer for our visitors seeking to quickly access world-class attractions and resorts throughout the destination in a fun and convenient way.”
Details of The People Mover
As it stands, the plan is to utilize electrically powered Tesla vehicles in the Las Vegas Loop. This will ensure that the system has the green credentials required for such a large piece of infrastructure.
The proposed route will go from downtown, all the way to the Allegiant Stadium. The Boring company has submitted a planning request to the city, which is expected to be rubber-stamped in November.
One possible snag in the works is that the company requires the permission of all landowners in which the transit route will pass. This will be a huge challenge for the company, although, given the benefits it offers, the company may find more are likely to agree than not. Gaining these permissions has already gotten underway.
“Each one of those entities needs to sign that (land use) application, along with the Boring Company in order for the application to be considered by the jurisdictions,” Hill said. “Virtually all of the signatures have been obtained. The Stadium Authority is one of the last needed. The Raiders strongly support that application.”
Connecting The City To The Airport
Eventual plans laid out by the authority include taking the people mover as far as McCarran Airport. This would remedy the age-old problem of getting tourists swiftly from the airport and straight to the action.
This is a fantastic idea for the city, but Hill recognizes that this is still only a conceptual idea. Although much still needs to be worked out and many permissions granted before this project can begin to take place, work will continue to bring the plans to the point of eventual enactment.
“The process at the airport is more complex and involves more entities than the rest of the locations on the route,” said Hill. “We’ve had discussions with the airport about it, but they are not yet in a position to sign any type of application that would be processed at this point. We’re obviously still going to work on that.”
Profitable Move All Told
With a cost of just over $52M, the system has already begun to be developed and completion should happen early next year. The speed at which the tunnels have been constructed is impressive. The project will also serve as a great idea for smaller cities and towns that do not already count on a subway system.
We covered the best time to visit Vegas in this piece, plans for which many might have in their minds at the moment. Vegas is gradually reopening. With the emergence of the new Las Vegas transit system, there is no doubt that tourists will fall back in love with the city when they return in high numbers.
