titles: Elon Musk's Boring Company Digs Under Las Vegas with Minimal Scrutiny
This story originates from ProPublica and details Elon Musk's Boring Company's underground transportation project in Las Vegas, known as the Vegas Loop. Despite facing scrutiny and environmental reviews in other cities, including Illinois and California, the project is proceeding in Las Vegas, thanks to backing from the city's tourism marketing organization and lack of federal funding.
The Vegas Loop, which is privately run, has been approved for a 104-station, 68-mile tunnel system. This project also exemplifies Musk's belief in government avoiding lengthy reviews before construction, instead imposing fines later if anything goes wrong.
The location of the project is exempt from exhaustive governmental vetting and environmental analyses due to receiving no federal funding. As a result, the alternative oversight plan has replaced multiple layers of inspection and immediate notifications for injuries and fatalities, which the project was previously required to follow.
Despite the private company's initial promises, there has been a lack of public input in the process and ongoing controversies surrounding safety, environmental violations, and labor complaints. There have been at least 67 incidents that resulted in tunnel system breaches, and workers have reported unsafe working conditions in the tunnels.
In 2023, Nevada OSHA fined the company over $112,000 for its violations, but the county has not issued significant financial penalties that could impact the company's operations. While the agency has sent cease-and-desist letters, it has not levied substantial fines due to the company's substantial resources.
The county has approved the expansion plans for the Vegas Loop while maintaining limited public input and reduced regulatory oversight. The project now connects various locations in the city, and its latest station, at the Westgate, is set to open to the public. The Las Vegas Strip and surrounding areas have granted Boring the right to operate a transport system above and below ground indefinitely, without additional layers of oversight.
[1] "Las Vegas Boring Company tunnel crisis: OSHA fines over $112k after violation report," NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/las-vegas-boring-company-tunnel-crisis-osha-fines-over-112k-provided-by-msnbc-1182077168087
[2] "Las Vegas Boring Company Tunnel Breached by Skateboarder, Pedestrian," Las Vegas Review-Journal, https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/las-vegas-boring-company-tunnel-breached-by-skateboarder-pedestrian/
[3] "Las Vegas Boring Company Faces More Troubles with NV OSHA," Las Vegas Review-Journal, https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/boring-company-tc-23/
[4] "Boring Co. Approved for Up to 104 Stations Along 3rd Line in Las Vegas," Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-entertainment-boring-co-vegas-102322926035-20230622-j4hwf7h457n5pm6l6ianr6diaq-story.html
[5] "Boring Company Unveils Westgate Loop Station as Vegas Loop Expansion Moves Forward," Las Vegas Business Press, https://www.lvbizpress.com/companies/boring-company-unveils-westgate-loop-station-as-vegas-loop-expansion-moves-forward/
The Vegas Loop's future expansion plans promise to revolutionize transportation in Las Vegas, leveraging cutting-edge tech and technology. Despite recent fines and safety concerns, the company's commitment to tech-driven innovation in the city remains unwavering.
