Would Elon Musk's tunnel solution for LA traffic work?
It is not news that the traffic in Los Angeles is terrible, which is why many people throughout the years have attempted to offer solutions. Whether it’s self-driving cars or adding more lanes onto the freeways, it seems finding the answer to LA congestion is hopeless. Now, Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is bringing his own solution to the table.
Frustrated by his daily commute from Bel-Air to SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, the business magnate and inventor devised a plan to build underground tunnels throughout Los Angeles.
At a TED Talk Musk said, “We’re trying to dig a hole under LA, and this is to create the beginning of what will hopefully be a 3-D network of tunnels to alleviate congestion.” The billionaire hasn’t wasted any time with this optimistic venture. He’s already founded a company to help dig the tunnels called The Boring Company.
He has even released a concept video illustrating their plans.
In the video, cars would park on top of a street level lift station before being lowered into an underground tunnel. They would then be zipped across town at speeds up to 124 mph — saving time and beating traffic.
Several challenges could arise from this tunneling plan. It would take many years and a lot of money to make the project work. Also, what about increased demand? Musk’s answer is that “there’s no real limit to how many levels of tunnel you can have.”
One the other hand, the idea of building tunnels underground is definitely not a new one. It actually sounds a bit similar to something Los Angeles already has — underground public transportation.
People can’t seem to decide whether Musk’s plan is crazy or revolutionary. However, this wouldn’t be the first time the successful entrepreneur's ideas have been questioned. After all, this is the same guy who made hybrid cars popular and launches rockets into space.