UPDATE: 13 Action News got its first real look at Elon Musk's underground tunnel at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Convention Center Loop cost more than $52 million to build. It will move people across the convention center's campus in electric Tesla vehicles.
Normally, the walk from one end of the convention center to the other would take 20-30 minutes. The entire trip now takes two minutes inside a Tesla, all thanks to the new underground loop.
Today's tour began with an escalator ride down 40 feet to what looks like a large underground garage. It was full of electric Tesla vehicles, coupes and SUV's, just waiting to pick up passengers and take them through one of two tunnels to either end of the convention center.
For now, those vehicles are operated by human drivers, but eventually the cars will drive themselves.
The underground station itself is lit up with multi-colored lights that are changing all the time, an illuminated "Las Vegas" sign, and digital displays showing where you're at on the loop.
Right now, there are only about a dozen vehicles down there, but eventually the L.V.C.V.A. envisions about 60 Teslas capable of transporting 4,400 people per hour.
The L.V.C.V.A. says the Convention Center Loop is now fully operational and ready for upcoming conventions, starting with World of Concrete June 8-10. The transportation service will be free for convention guests.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors authority will give a media tour of the Convention Center Loop Underground Transportation System Friday.
The Convention Center Loop is meant to be.a quick and fun way to move visitors across the Convention Center campus, which is more than 200 acres. The tunnel runs 40 feet beneath the Convention Center.
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The underground tunnel system was developed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Trade show attendees will zip around the Convention Center at high speeds in electric Tesla vehicles.
The Vegas Loops will be fully operational in June when Las Vegas welcomes back its first big convention, World of Concrete.
There are also plans for expansion. Eventually, the underground tunnel system will stretch from downtown Las Vegas to the Las Vegas Strip, ending at Allegiant Stadium.
“If we have the ability to get people from one of their desired locations to the next inside of five minutes, it's going to be a game changer for this city,” said Steve Hill, CEO of LVCVA.
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The project has a price tag of $52.5 million.
The media tour happens Friday afternoon. Check back here for updated photos and videos of Convention Center Loop.
