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AI / ML DevOps Entreprenuer Sharing insights into life's hidden cheat codes and stories of value.

Dec 5, 2024, 12 tweets

Everyone laughed when Elon said he'd dig tunnels to fix LA traffic..

Now his underground Vegas loop is making $75M a year.

But how this business grew is actually wild.

Here's what's actually happening beneath the strip: 🧵

You might've heard of Elon's Vegas Loop:

A 1.7-mile tunnel system under the Las Vegas Convention Center that critics called "just a tunnel with Teslas."

But here's what's really happening beneath the neon lights of Vegas..

And why it's working better than anyone expected:

The Loop isn't just moving people—it's moving money:

• $75M annual revenue
• 28,000 passengers daily
• 2-minute average wait time
• 150 Teslas in operation

But here's what most people don't know:

The Vegas Loop isn't using any groundbreaking tech.

No autonomous vehicles. No fancy routing algorithms. No "hyperloop" magic.

Just human drivers in regular Teslas.

Here's why that matters:

While everyone was waiting for perfect self-driving tech, Boring Company did something clever:

They simplified everything.

One-way tunnels. No lane changes. No traffic signals. No pedestrians.

It's literally impossible to crash.

Here's the real genius ⤵️

The convention center loop cost $47M to build.

Traditional subway systems? $500M+ per mile.

Elon found the sweet spot between buses and trains—Boring Company digs tunnels for $10M per mile.

That's 1/50th the cost of traditional subway tunnels.

But how??

They shrunk everything:

Traditional tunnel: 28ft diameter. Boring tunnel: 12ft diameter

Smaller tunnel = 67% less dirt to remove = 67% less concrete needed = 67% faster to build

But there's more...

The system is expanding rapidly:

• 68 stations planned
• 87 total miles of tunnel
• Will connect entire Vegas strip
• Airport to downtown in 5 minutes

Current subway projects take decades.

Vegas Loop? Adding new stations monthly.

Here's what critics miss:

It's not trying to be a subway. It's not trying to be a bus.

It's a new category: "Point-to-point mass transit"

No fixed schedules. No intermediate stops. Just direct rides.

The results?

• 90% customer satisfaction
• 4.9/5 average rating
• 0 accidents in 3 years
• Profitable in year one

While others debate perfect solutions...

Boring Company built an imperfect one that actually works.

And Vegas is loving it. Your key takeaway?

Sometimes the best solution isn't the most advanced one.

It's the one that can be built today, serves real needs, and makes money while doing it.

That's the real tunnel vision.

I hope you've found this thread interesting.

Follow me @sol_boxy for more worthwhile content

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