Underground transit tunnels back on the table for Miami Beach
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The Boring Company's car tunnel near Los Angeles in 2018. Photo: Robyn Beck/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
The mayor of Miami Beach wants to explore the possibility of building underground tunnels to improve traffic.
Why it matters: After opposing plans to expand the Metromover from downtown Miami to South Beach, city leaders have turned to more experimental ideas to ease gridlock.
- Commissioners voted in June to negotiate terms for a proposed water taxi service.
The latest: Mayor Steven Meiner will ask the City Commission on Wednesday to discuss whether underground transit tunnels would be "feasible" for Miami Beach, as part of the meeting's agenda.
- The city suffers from chronic flooding, sits just a few feet above sea level and was built on porous limestone.
The intrigue: In 2022, Meiner proposed reaching out to Elon Musk's The Boring Company about the possibility of building transit tunnels in Miami Beach.
- But this time, Meiner says he isn't proposing any one specific project.
- In a memo, he says he wants to explore the tunnel idea more broadly, including engineering and environmental considerations, potential funding sources and integration with local transit systems.
Flashback: Musk's tunnel company is no stranger to South Florida.
- In 2021 and 2022, The Boring Company submitted plans to Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach to build underground Tesla car tunnels, similar to a Boring project in Las Vegas called the Vegas Loop.
- The Fort Lauderdale project was suspended and North Miami Beach officials did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday on the status of its project, which was reportedly still active in 2023.
- Musk and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez discussed building tunnels in Miami in 2021. The city studied the possibility of building a tunnel system, but it's unclear if that ever moved forward.
- A spokesperson for Suarez did not immediately respond to questions about the project.
As a city commissioner in 2022, Meiner proposed that the city study the possibility of underground tunnels in Miami Beach and that the administration contact The Boring Company.
- His resolution passed, but it's unclear if the city ever held discussions with Musk's company. Neither Meiner nor the city responded to requests for comment Tuesday.
What's next: At Wednesday's commission meeting, Meiner has proposed to discuss whether the city should seek expert recommendations on a potential tunnel project or review case studies from other local governments, per the agenda.