{"id":152250,"date":"2020-10-17T16:39:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-17T23:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=152250"},"modified":"2020-10-17T21:35:10","modified_gmt":"2020-10-18T04:35:10","slug":"report-musk-loop-may-only-serve-fraction-of-vegas-convo-center-traffic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/report-musk-loop-may-only-serve-fraction-of-vegas-convo-center-traffic\/","title":{"rendered":"Elon Musk’s Vegas Loop Will Only Serve Fraction of Convention Center Traffic, Report Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

A report released Friday casts some serious doubts about the capabilities of Elon Musk\u2019s underground people mover currently under construction below the Las Vegas Convention Center. And that could end up costing Musk\u2019s The Boring Company quite a bit of money.<\/p>\n

\"Vegas
A report claims Elon Musk’s people mover may be a money loser.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TechCrunch.com<\/em> reported that the high-speed Loop<\/a> will not have the capacity that convention center officials want, based on a review of files associated with the project. Investigative reporter Mark Harris noted that Musk\u2019s company won the bid for the people mover by being \u201ctens of millions of dollars cheaper\u201d than light rail proposals submitted to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.<\/p>\n

Harris said the center wants a system that would transport up to 4,400 people per hour, the standard it needs to move people effectively while it hosts major conventions that attract crowds of more than 100,000 people.<\/p>\n

However, fire safety standards show that one of the three stations within the dual-tunnel loop is rated for a capacity of just 800 people per hour.<\/p>\n

If the other stations have similar limitations, the system might only be able to transport 1,200 people an hour \u2014 around a quarter of its promised capacity,\u201d the article said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The report states if The Boring Company misses the mark by that wide a margin, it faces losing $13.2 million in funding on a project with a $52 million budget. And that might just be the beginning of the losses. The project\u2019s contract states TBC would receive $4.4 million for proving it can safely move 2,200 people per hour, and an additional $4.4 million in payments for reaching 3,300 and 4,400 riders per hour.<\/p>\n

Musk Company Faces Fines for Missing Target<\/h2>\n

The loop will connect the convention center\u2019s new West Hall expansion, a $980 million project, with its North\/Central Hall. Walking between the venues could take about 15 minutes. The Loop, which uses self-driving electric cars produced by Musk\u2019s Tesla Inc., has been touted to move convention-goers in about a minute.<\/p>\n

The vehicles are designed to carry up to 16 passengers and travel at speeds of up to 155 miles per hour.<\/p>\n

While it may move fast, if the Loop doesn\u2019t move enough people, The Boring Company will have to pay.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor each large trade show that TBC fails to transport an average capacity of 3,960 passengers per hour for 13 hours, it will have to pay LVCVA $300,000 in damages,\u201d <\/strong>the article said. \u201cIf TBC keeps falling short, it keeps paying, up to a maximum of $4.5 million.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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TechCrunch.com<\/em> says fire safety regulations \u2013 such as sprinkler systems, emergency exits, and maximum capacity restrictions for vehicles \u2013 are keeping Musk\u2019s company from hitting the higher number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Speaking of safety, the report also states that TBC has told convention officials human drivers will be behind the wheel of the people-movers.<\/p>\n

Musk stated on Twitter Wednesday that construction crews are doing \u201csome finishing touches\u201d on the stations and that the Loop could maybe open in a month.<\/p>\n

Vegas Loop Expansion Takes Next Steps<\/h2>\n

The report comes just a couple days after the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Assn. announced the first steps to expand the Loop beyond the convention center, an expansion project that\u2019s long been discussed.<\/a><\/p>\n

Authority President and CEO Steve Hill told the LVCVA board on Tuesday that The Boring Company has submitted a special use permit application with Las Vegas officials and plan to submit a design review application with Clark County officials.<\/p>\n

The extensions would connect the Loop to Downtown Vegas, the Strip, and McCarran International Airport.<\/p>\n

Even after the TechCrunch<\/em> report Friday, at least one planned casino was still touting the project. Resorts World Las Vegas tweeted an image showing the designed passenger loading station for the $4.3 billion Strip casino slated to open next year.<\/p>\n

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Our passenger station for @elonmusk<\/a>'s underground tunnel project will swiftly transport passengers between the heart of the resort\u2019s dining, retail, and nightlife offerings and the @lvcc<\/a> in under two minutes. pic.twitter.com\/wMvZKtqJbk<\/a><\/p>\n

— Resorts World Las Vegas (@ResortsWorldLV) October 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n