Question of the Day - 29 June 2020

Thanks for asking. We were wondering the same thing and your question gave us the opportunity to explore the possibilities -- most of which seem to us to be somewhat dim, depending on (or if) Musk can bore a Strip-long tunnel.

The Las Vegas Monorail, which runs from MGM Grand to the Sahara, still provides swift and high-capacity service to the Convention Center. Since it serves neither Wynn Las Vegas/Encore nor Resorts World Las Vegas, connections from either of those properties to the Convention Center do not render the Monorail redundant. Much remains to be seen … and done.

Resorts World is so keen on the idea of directly connecting to the Convention Center that it is not even waiting for its mid-2021 opening to start work on a tunnel of its own. Both Resorts World and Wynncore have filed paperwork with Clark County and the LVCC, outlining their desire — and designs — for tunnels linking their resorts to the Convention Center, where Musk’s underground circulator is being built in record time, even for Las Vegas. No doubt other parties are drawn to Musk by the speed and relative economy ($52.5 million) with which he has bored his way around the sprawling Convention Center.

Wynn’s tunnel would be a straight line from Encore to Silver Lot No. 2 in the Convention Center parking area, next to the South Hall. Resorts World’s line would run northward along the Strip for a block, cutting over to the former Riviera site just south of Elvis Presley Boulevard. According to a map posted by VitalVegas blogger Scott Roeben, who has been all over this story, it would eventually swing southeast for a roughly equal distance to link up with the West Hall of the LVCC, whereupon it will connect with Musk’s loop. 

Both routes would be designed to be compatible with Musk’s, which uses modified Tesla cars as transport vehicles. That latter would “porpoise” to the surface at the Resorts World and Encore stations. They would not, however, be free to ride (Wynn Resorts and Genting Group have to pay for their connections somehow.) Transport fees are rumored to be in the $3-$5 range.

A conceptual map, of unclear provenance, shows a grand scheme running the length of the Las Vegas Strip, starting at the Fremont Street Experience, with stops at every major resort (you can tell that whoever drew the map thinks the Drew is doomed; it's omitted) and Fashion Show Mall, with spur lines to Allegiant Stadium, and Terminals One and Three at McCarran International.

If the bigger casinos continue to show interest, the Monorail could be toast (money was budgeted during its construction for its eventual demolition). On the other hand, much depends on the ticket prices, carrying capacity, regularity of service, station location, security, and enough other factors that we're not writing off the Monorail just yet.

As far as the veracity of this map is concerned, Roeben can vouch for it. He tweeted, “Per well-placed sources … Boring Company is confident it will expand underground transportation system to include tunnels between airport and downtown Las Vegas, in addition to proposed stops at Wynn and Resorts World.” To which Musk personally replied, “Looking likely.” If Musk can continue to bore at cost-efficient rates, his dream could very well become reality.