Elon Musk Moves Forward on Huge Las Vegas Strip Project

The Las Vegas Strip has become home to some of the worst traffic in the world. It's congested pretty much always because not only are there hundreds of thousands of tourists in taxis, cars, and Ubers/Lyfts, but also thousands of trucks supply the Strip's mega-resorts.

In addition, the Las Vegas Strip still gets filled with people trying to make their way from casino to casino, or to other destinations on the busy south and central sections of the Strip. That's a tricky proposition that involves more escalators and elevators than most people would want, but it's still possible.

Getting to the Las Vegas Strip, or from there to pretty much anyplace, has long been a nightmare. During a major convention like CES, I have boarded a bus to go a couple of miles only to have the trip take 45 minutes or longer.

Las Vegas' efforts to alleviate the traffic problem with a monorail did not work and that transportation system is more novelty than problem solver.

Tesla's Elon Musk, however, has a solution, even though the idea of it seems absurd. He wants his Boring Co. to dig a network of tunnels under Las Vegas that he will fill with self-driving Teslas which (for a fee) will take passengers anywhere on the Strip to all major Las Vegas destinations, including the airport.

Tesla will offer a subway-like service below the Las Vegas Strip.

Image source: Resorts World

The Las Vegas Hyperloop makes slow progress

Called, the “Vegas Loop,” Musk's Hyperloop project has been more novelty than reality. For years, it was simply a tunnel under the two halves of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) that went less than two miles.

That a mild convenience, but the Teslas have drivers and the rides are free.

The Las Vegas Loop now also runs from Resorts World Las Vegas on the north Strip to the LVCC as well as select other loocations. Musk's project, however, has much bigger goals.

Vegas Loop provides fast and convenient transportation to the Las Vegas community and its visitors, having already transported more than 3 million passengers through 8 stations. In its final form, the Vegas Loop will serve up to 90,000 passengers per hour, rapidly connecting key locations, like Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and downtown, with transit times between 2 and 8 minutes.

Clark County and the City of Las Vegas have approved 68 miles of tunnel and 104 stations, cementing the Vegas Loop as a vital piece of the city's future infrastructure.

Las Vegas Loop has been slowly expanding. The project crossed over to the west side of the Strip for the second time.

“The new Vegas Loop tunnel runs between an area on the northern edge of the Wynn Golf Club across Las Vegas Boulevard and to the southeastern corner of the land commonly known as Wynn West,” the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.

Boring Co, celebrated the milestone in in an August 26 Tweet.

“Emerging from beneath the Las Vegas Strip,” the company shared.

Boring Co. Vegas Loop timeline:

2019: $48.7M contract for Las Vegas Convention Center Loop.
2020: Both 1.7-mile tunnels completed.
2021 (June): Loop opens to convention attendees.
2022–2025: Expands to Resorts World, Westgate, Encore, LVCC Plaza.
Future: Planned 68 miles, 55 stops, including Strip resorts, airport, Allegiant Stadium, UNLV, Brightline station, and downtown.

Las Vegas Loop slowly moves forward

Musk's project has not yet done much to alleviate traffic, but each new station it adds is progress toward that/

“The first of two University Center Loop tunnels run underneath Paradise Road from a planned station site on 4744 Paradise near Tropicana Avenue to the Westgate are also moving along. The first tunnel is close to emerging at Westgate, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Steve Hill said last week,” the LVRJ reported.

The University Center Loop will include stations at:

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas,
A multifamily housing unit Boring Co. hopes to build
Two stations north of Flamingo Road that could serve events at Sphere.

More upcoming Las Vegas Loop stations and tunnels underway

Thomas & Mack / Park MGM / T-Mobile Arena area: A tunnel is planned from near the Thomas & Mack Center to a station serving Park MGM and T-Mobile Arena. Permit applications filed in June 2025 indicate this as the next expansion phase.
Clark County approval (May 2023): 18 new stations and 25 miles of tunnel expansion, bringing the system closer to 69 stations covering 65 miles of tunnels.
City of Las Vegas Council approval (mid-2023):
- Approved 21 more stations within city limits, including:
  - Area 15
  - Palace Station
  - Medical District
  - Symphony Park
  - El Cortez
  - Downtown Events Center
  - City Hall
Downtown Las Vegas expansion (approved July 2023): Proposals include stations near downtown casinos, Area 15, and four civic locations
Potential future stops: The completed system aims for 68 miles of tunnels and 55 to 104 stops, covering major destinations such as:
- - Harry Reid International Airport
  - Allegiant Stadium
  - Las Vegas Stadium (Oakland A’s ballpark)
  - Brightline West Train Station
  - UNLV
  - Downtown Las Vegas

Ben Leffel, an assistant professor of public policy at UNLV, said in an interview with ProPublica and City Cast Las Vegas that the private project’s ability to expand without the same scrutiny required of public projects is a major gap in oversight.

Vegas Loop customers will expect Boring to follow the same standards as a public transit system, Leffel said, and it “should receive the same amount of oversight and maintenance,” more so because of the company’s construction and labor citations.

Former Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who completed her third and final term in December, said she too is concerned about safety, as well as accessibility for riders with disabilities. She had questioned whether the tunnel project was the best transportation option for the city.

“I have been totally opposed to it from the beginning and still remain so,” she said.

FAQ: Vegas Loop Project

What is the Vegas Loop?
The Vegas Loop is an underground transportation system built by Elon Musk’s Boring Company. It uses Tesla vehicles in tunnels to shuttle passengers between resorts, the airport, downtown Las Vegas, and major event venues.

How many stations will the Vegas Loop have?
Clark County and the City of Las Vegas have approved up to 68 miles of tunnels and 55–104 stations. Current stops include the Las Vegas Convention Center, Resorts World, Encore, and Westgate.

Who regulates the Vegas Loop?
Unlike traditional public transit projects, the Vegas Loop operates as a private project. Experts, including those from UNLV, have raised concerns about oversight, safety, and accessibility.

When will the Vegas Loop connect to the airport?
A direct connection to Harry Reid International Airport is part of the approved expansion, though no official opening date has been set.

Is the Vegas Loop a real Hyperloop?
No. Despite early “Hyperloop” branding, the Vegas Loop uses Tesla cars with drivers in tunnels. The high-speed, vacuum-tube Hyperloop concept has only been tested at a site near North Las Vegas.