Today, Explained Digging tunnels for cars
Dec 5, 2022
Paris Marx, author of "Road to Nowhere", and Alissa Walker, a journalist on urban transportation, dive into Elon Musk's ambitious yet faltering Boring Company. They critique the promise of underground tunnels aimed at solving traffic woes, emphasizing the skepticism surrounding these solutions. The discussion reveals the challenges faced in urban planning, the myth of tech-driven fixes, and the necessity of prioritizing public transportation over car dependency. Their insights highlight a need for practical approaches to modern traffic problems.
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Origin of The Boring Company
- Elon Musk, frustrated with L.A. traffic, tweeted about building a tunnel boring machine.
- This evolved into a proposal for a 3D tunnel network, presented in a TED Talk, to alleviate congestion.
First Dig and L.A. Challenges
- Musk acquired a used tunnel boring machine and began digging on SpaceX property.
- Initial excitement from L.A. officials waned after lawsuits from wealthy neighbors and community groups.
Las Vegas Project
- Las Vegas became The Boring Company's first paying customer, commissioning a tunnel for their convention center.
- This initial project, costing $50 million, proved underwhelming, carrying only three passengers at a time.
