Elon Musk recently tweeted a video of his company’s rapid-transit tunnel. The tunnel is constructed under a Los Angeles suburb where he will test the new transportation system. Musk tweeted that the length of the tunnel is “disturbingly long” after walking it, according to Tech Xplore.
The tunnel runs approximately two miles under the streets where Musk’s SpaceX headquarters is located. He said the test tunnel will be used for the research and development of public transportation systems.
Musk hopes this tunnel will initiate a transportation system where vehicles or people pods can be moved through tunnels on electrically powered platforms called skates. At speeds of 150 mph, the company claimed the electric transportation system, called the Dugout loop, would shuttle people from downtown Los Angeles to the Los Angeles International Airport in eight minutes. The tunnel would be especially useful during special events.
“Initially, Dugout Loop will be limited to approximately 1,400 people (approximately 2.5 percent of Stadium capacity) per event,” the Boring company said on its website, according to The Washington Post. “Based on City and community feedback, it could be possible to increase ridership per game to 2,800 per game or event (5 percent of Stadium capacity). Between games and events Dugout Loop would transport 250,000 people per year.”
Additionally, the tunnel would not be limited to shuttles. Elevators would take people, cyclists or cars from street-level to underground tunnel stops at the price of $1 per ride.
On Dec. 10, he will show off the test tunnel and offer free rides the next day.
Filed Under: Test + measurement • test equipment
