Back in 2018, Elon Musk’s Boring Company pitched an ambitious idea to the Culver City Council: build a 6.5-mile “proof-of-concept” tunnel under the city as part of a larger plan to reduce surface traffic and explore underground transportation. The tunnel would have connected Los Angeles to the Culver City area and used autonomous “pods” to move passengers at speeds up to 150 miles per hour.
At the time, the proposal made headlines and sparked a lot of local conversation. Some people were hopeful, others skeptical. So, what happened to that tunnel?
Update on the Culver City Proposal
As of today, the tunnel project in Culver City never materialized. After the 2018 presentation, the Boring Company did not move forward with an official application or seek permits. City officials expressed concerns about oversight, feasibility, and how the private transit system might interact (or conflict) with public transportation options. The Council ultimately didn’t approve the idea, and the conversation didn’t continue beyond the initial meeting.While Culver City Mayor Jeff Cooper was open to further exploration at the time, others on the Council raised questions about equity, infrastructure investment, and the lack of concrete details from the Boring Company.
So… Was Culver City Ever Getting a Hyperloop?
Not quite. While early news reports and public interest often referenced the Hyperloop, what the Boring Company proposed was more akin to an underground shuttle system. Smaller autonomous electric vehicles would travel on skates through narrow tunnels. These pods wouldn’t stop at multiple points like a subway train; instead, each ride would go directly from point A to B.So, while the tunnel might have shared some futuristic energy with the Hyperloop concept, it wasn’t the ultra-high-speed, vacuum-sealed tube system that headlines sometimes implied. And again, Culver City never formally moved forward with any version of the project.
What Has the Boring Company Done Since?
While the Culver City tunnel didn’t move forward, the Boring Company has kept digging elsewhere. Some of its recent and ongoing projects include:- Las Vegas Loop– The company’s most visible success so far is the Vegas Loop. It includes a growing network of underground tunnels connecting the Las Vegas Convention Center to key Strip locations. Future extensions to resorts along the strip are still planned. In spite of this success, it has been reported that the loop’s construction involved severe safety violations.
- Austin, Texas & Fort Lauderdale, Florida– The company has been linked to proposed tunnel projects in both cities. However, the proposals seem to predate Musk’s acquisition of X (fka Twitter). It can be assumed that the company would continue to explore opportunities for expanding its tunnel network in these regions, but nothing concrete has emerged.
- Dubai –The Boring Company signed a preliminary agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). The agreement is that they’ll build an underground high-speed transport network.
- Tech evolution– The Boring Company continues to refine its tunneling technology and vehicle pods, working toward faster, more cost-efficient builds.
What Transportation does Culver City have Today?
Even without an underground tunnel, Culver City offers a robust mix of transportation options:
Culver CityBus serves as a reliable local transit system, with routes connecting to West L.A., Marina del Rey, Century City, and more. The city has also committed to converting its entire fleet to battery-electric buses by 2028.
Metro E Line (Expo Line) connects Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, with stops at Culver City. This line provides convenient access to various parts of the city and is a popular option for commuters.
Bike and pedestrian infrastructure continues to grow. Culver City has been expanding its bike and pedestrian infrastructure, including dedicated lanes and traffic-calming measures. These efforts aim to encourage non-vehicle travel and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Car-free mobility options like rideshare services, e-scooters, and bike rentals are also popular, especially near the downtown district. These options provide convenient and flexible transportation for residents and visitors.
Robotaxis mean that Culver City’s tech boom have pushed the city far into the future. Waymos may be a rare sight elsewhere, but soon they’ll be opening in cities across the world..
Final Thoughts
While Culver City ultimately passed on becoming a test site for the Boring Company’s tunneling ambitions, the proposal sparked a valuable discussion about the future of urban transportation. This is especially true in a region as traffic-challenged as Los Angeles County.For now, Culver City continues to invest in sustainable, public-first transit options above ground. If you’re still curious about underground pods speeding through the city, you may have to take a trip to Vegas to see it in action.