Las Vegas Loop Criticized for Its Safety Standards and Environmental Issues

Elon Musk’s “Vegas Loop,” the underground tunnel system designed to transport passengers in Teslas, came under renewed scrutiny this week as Nevada lawmakers voiced concerns over alleged workplace safety and environmental violations.

Vegas Loop Hit With Criticisms

Opened in 2021, the Vegas Loop provides free rides within the Las Vegas Convention Center and charges between $4 and $12 for trips to select hotels, casinos, and the airport. Riders can request self-driving Tesla cars via a website or pick them up at designated stations. Musk’s Boring Company has said it will construct 68 miles of tunnels and 104 stations in the coming years underneath Las Vegas.

However, despite the hype surrounding the futuristic transportation systems, some cracks are forming, both figuratively and literally. The Boring Company has faced allegations of violating multiple safety and environmental regulations. Between 2020 and 2026, 17 complaints were filed with the Nevada State Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

Last year, ProPublica reported that the company was accused of nearly 800 environmental violations related to its Las Vegas project. These violations have not gone unpunished, however. Last November, for example, the Boring Company was fined $500,000 after the Clark County Water Reclamation District reported that, on multiple occasions, workers refused an inspector’s instructions to stop the illegal dumping of waste.

Democratic Assembly member Howard Watts, whose district includes the tunnel project, is one of the critics of the Boring Company and their practices. According to him, the company acts like it is “above the law,” as it wants to skirt around rules. 

Watts also highlighted the numerous work incidents that have happened during the Vegas Loop’s construction. He gave an example with a September incident in which a worker sustained a crushing injury inside a tunnel after being trapped between two 4,000-foot pipes. Firefighters later used a crane to lift the worker out through the tunnel opening, according to Watts. The company said it was investigating the incident, stressed that employee safety is a top priority, and reported that the worker was in stable condition and doing well.

Many Like the System, Despite Its Flaws

Despite the criticisms, work on the system continues, with some embracing the idea. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley praised the project last month after the city issued a permit for a new tunnel. She explained that the city was eager to introduce an innovative transportation option downtown and offer visitors another way to experience Las Vegas.

Also last month, Tesla themselves revealed they will be upgrading the Vegas Loop by using new Tesla robovans and expanding the entire fleet of Tesla vehicles to over 1,200.

The system has already proven popular with many visitors, particularly during large conventions such as the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January. On a recent weekday, a station at the Las Vegas Convention Center saw a constant flow of Teslas ferrying passengers in and out. For example, Devin Newcomb, a San Diego resident and frequent visitor, said the Vegas Loop makes it easier for him to navigate the city.

Meanwhile, Samantha Mingola, a Florida resident attending an expo at the convention center, said she has been using the Vegas Loop because it is easier to set up than other rideshare services and convenient since her hotel has a Loop station. However, after hearing about the violations and fines the Boring Company has had to pay, she worries about the possibility of tunnel collapses and remains uncertain about a company run by Musk.