Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
News

Elon Musk Wants To Build A Tunnel To Dodger Stadium And Charge Fans About $1 To Ride

SpaceX, Tesla and The Boring Company founder Elon Musk speaks at the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition, in Hawthorne on July 22, 2018. (Photo by Robyn Beck /AFP/Getty Images)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Metro has its Dodger Stadium Express bus. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti pitched building an aerial gondola. Someone even had the idea of building a monorail. Now, tech billionaire Elon Musk wants to bring his Loop system to the ballpark.

Musk's Boring Company is proposing to build a roughly 3.6-mile "zero-emissions, high-speed, underground public transportation system" to ferry fans up to Chavez Ravine. It's been dubbed The Dugout Loop.

The system would transport eight to 16 passengers per vehicle in what the company calls "electric skates," which are capable of reaching speeds up to 150 miles per hour.

The Boring Co. said construction would not affect Metro stations or lead to any road closures. Here are some of the key points of the proposal:

  • The Loop would start in either the Los Feliz, East Hollywood, or Rampart Village neighborhood. The west-to-east route to the stadium would begin near existing Metro stations at "Loop Lifts," which would use elevators or ramps to get passenger cars into the tunnel.
  • The trip will take about 4 minutes, according to the company.
  • The projected fare for riders is roughly $1, but that number is not finalized.
  • They plan to cap the number of riders to 1,400 people per ballgame or event. That's about 2.5 percent of Dodger Stadium's capacity. The Boring Co. says that number could increase based on city and community feedback.
  • The company says construction of the tunnel and loop lifts would take about 14 months, but gave no estimate on when buulding could start if approved.
  • The project would be "100% privately funded" and "require zero taxpayer dollars."

The company said it's working with L.A's Bureau of Engineering to start an environmental impact report. The public will get a chance to learn more about the project and weigh in at a meeting to be held at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 28 from 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. More on that meeting can be found here.

Sponsored message

For an idea of how the technology is expected to work, check out this video from The Boring Company:


News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today