LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Elon Musk’s Boring Co. may get another chance to build an express-tunnel transit system.
The Associated Press reports that Las Vegas’ tourism agency is recommending Musk’s company to build a transit system to connect an expanded convention center, with eventual growth to the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
The initial system, just over a mile in length, could be in service by January 2021. Construction costs are estimated at $35 million to $55 million.
The system would serve entrances at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is being expanded to handle major events such as the Consumer Electronics Show. When completed, it would be a 2-mile walk from one end to the other, prompting the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to seek a transit system.
The Boring Co. had proposed high-speed tunnel systems in Los Angeles and Chicago, but both projects are facing opposition. In Los Angeles, the Boring Co. cancelled plans for a test tunnel after a group filed a lawsuit over disruptions during the tunneling process. In Chicago, neither candidate in a mayoral runoff election supports a proposed project connecting downtown Chicago to O’Hare Airport [see “Chicago chooses Musk firm for high speed line to O’Hare airport,” Trains News Wire, June 15, 2018].
While I support the idea of extending the existing monorail, I’ve also come to realize that there is a serious problem with any transit system with more than 2 stations: almost to the degree of a curse, there is virtually guaranteed to be unused capacity that ends up driving up costs. Basically, since trains must run at a frequency great enough to keep the most crowded portion of the line from being overcrowded, it means that on the rest of the line, trains will run at less than maximum capacity, sometimes substantially so. On the other hand, if transit vehicles operate directly between two end points, frequency and capacity can be more easily adjusted to meet demand. This is why the hub and spoke system of the airlines works well, keeping planes closer to 100% capacity on a regular basis. Elon’s system, though he may not realize it, is more geared toward this model than standard high-capacity transit systems with long trains. If I could post a link to a web site I’m working on that demonstrates this, I will.
Why not just expand the Monorail?
An extension to the airport would only be about 2 miles long. I think it is the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of extensions. It would definitely bring in many new riders and make the line far more relevant than it is now. But it is important to remember that the line is currently just less than 4 miles long, meaning a 2-mile extension would be a significant change. It won’t happen without major outside investment, public or private. For how short and unconnected the current system is, it already carries an impressive amount of passengers.
Edward, I have always also wondered if that was the case. It seems like a no brainer that the monorail should be extended past MGM over Tropicana Ave.and the short distance to the airport. It would then be so much more of a relevant choice for people arriving and departing Las Vegas.
I often wondered if there was a taxi lobby that prevented the monorail from reaching the airport. With the rise of Lyft and Uber, I wonder if there is less political clout in that sector.
Gerald, Since it is a not for profit corporation,then I guess that they don’t really care if serving McCarren International Airport would make it any more of a success than it is at this time. But since its’ history seems to tie it to MGM,then you would think that they would want airport passengers to have a direct link to MGM properties.
The monorail already serves the convention center,but it would be a much more useful service if it were extended south to the airport and north to downtown. These improvements should be made before any unproven and out of sight option is pursued. Currently,the monorail is under-utilized because of its current route limitations and all efforts should be made to do whatever is necessary to improve ridership before money is spent that would possibly lead to a further reduction of patronage on what is already available for convention goers to use.
You are all aware that the Monorail in Las Vegas is a private enterprise and not public? There’s a specific reason for the route it currently travels…I’ll leave the readers of this forum to figure it out.
As for the Boring Co. project, it sounds like they want it to run the length of the expanded convention center…2 miles to walk from end to end is a long distance indeed and that almost would require some form of transit, just for the convention center itself.