Elon Musk’s tunneling company will begin assessing its ability to construct a mile-long underground tunnel in South Dallas after a proposed project in the area was one of three winners of a company contest on Tuesday.
Tunnel Project Details
The Boring Company, which has built tunnels in Austin and Bastrop, announced in January an open call for tunnel proposals up to a mile long. The winning submissions would be built at the company’s expense. A proposal to connect the University of North Texas at Dallas with University Hills, a billion-dollar mixed-use development currently under construction, was selected from almost 500 submissions.
The Boring Company outlined next steps in a social media post, including communication with elected officials and initial boring. Projects in New Orleans and Baltimore were also selected as winners, but construction will only proceed if deemed “feasible.” The company also indicated it would explore a project in San Antonio, and a proposal from Waco was submitted but not mentioned further.
Texas Focus
The Boring Company, one of several owned by Elon Musk, has shown repeated interest in Texas. The company’s most extensive tunnel system is currently located in Las Vegas, with roughly 68 miles approved for construction, including more than 5 miles currently built and eight stations. Passengers are transported in Tesla cars through these tunnels.
The University Hills tunnel proposal would connect to a DART station near UNT Dallas, according to a City of Dallas press release. This development occurs as other transportation projects in Texas have faced obstacles, such as the cutting of a $63.9 million planning grant for high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston last April.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Boring Company proposing in Dallas?
The Boring Company is assessing the feasibility of building a mile-long underground tunnel connecting the University of North Texas at Dallas with the University Hills development.
How many total projects were selected?
Three projects were selected: one in Dallas, one in New Orleans, and one in Baltimore.
What is the status of the other proposed projects in Texas?
The Boring Company will try to help construct an additional tunnel project in San Antonio, and a proposal from Waco was submitted but not mentioned by the company.
As the project moves forward, will the proposed tunnel truly address transportation needs in the region?
