Universal Orlando and The Boring Co. may be teaming up on a tunnel project, Orlando business leaders told the Orlando Business Journal recently.
Universal Studios
Several local leaders and industry experts say they have “heard chatter” that The Boring Co., owned by Elon Musk, and Universal are working together to bring a tunnel-like transportation system to Orlando.
The Boring Co. is a Texas-based infrastructure and tunnel construction firm founded by Elon Musk in 2017. Boring’s most notable work is the “Vegas Loop,” an underground public transit system that connects people to different parts of Las Vegas using Tesla vehicles.
©The Boring Co.
President and CEO of The International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, Maria Triscari, said she has heard the discussion about a “Vegas Loop”-like project coming to Orlando and believes it is likely to happen in the future.
“It’s definitely been in the talks because we want to be a cut above the rest, and that’s the type of thing that needs to happen, and that’s the kind of people we have on the I-Drive Corridor, the visionaries. They are just so forward-thinking,” Triscari said.
©The Boring Co.
Joshua Wallack, who owns Mango’s Tropical Cafe on International Drive, said he has also heard the rumors of Boring’s expansion into the area, and he’s also fully in support of it.
He said, “It’s out there in the real estate community — Boring is looking at the whole I-Drive district, basically having the Orange County Convention Center to Epic Universe on a
Epic Universe entrance
As of now, neither Universal nor The Boring Co. has commented or confirmed on plans to team up on a project like this.
An Orange County spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, and an Orlando spokesperson said via email, “There has not been any formal paperwork filed or conversations about such an endeavor.” The Orlando Business Journal also submitted a public records request for references to such a project, but did not get any results.
Islands of Adventure
But Dennis Spiegel, CEO of International Theme Park Services, said he also has heard talk about this potential partnership.
If the rumor is true, Spiegel says it would be a good idea, as he believes the biggest issue facing Orlando right now is transportation. He compared the potential system to Disney World’s monorail.
Walt Disney World Monorail
There are currently a few projects hoping to address transportation along I-Drive, but they’re still a ways away from completion.
SunRail’s board recently approved a $6 million study tied to the proposed Sunshine Corridor with Brightline and SunRail that’s focused on answering questions about construction timelines and overall project cost.
Brightline train
There’s also a $35.6 million pedestrian bridge project at the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road. Orange County Commissioners gave the green light to advance a study of this project.
John Stine, a board member of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, said he’s heard talk of a “loop” transportation system being built in Orlando, but the first step is finishing those two transportation projects.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for additional updates about this potential new transportation system. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Orlando theme park news and more.
What do you think of a tunnel connecting Universal Parks? Let us know in the comments.
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Years ago, Musk promised the city of Chicago the exact same thing (an underground train system from downtown Chicago to O’Hare Int’l Airport). It never happened. Sounds like the same smoke being blown up Florida’s rear end. I really would like to see it happen though. Universal needs that airport to resort area transportation in order to win their war with Disney.
Florida is a sandbar, nothing is underground here except water. That’s why Magic Kingdom’s main park is really a level up and the “underground” is on the ground floor. I remember when he wanted to do this in California and they said no because of earthquakes and he threw a tantrum.
BASEMENTS are impractical in Florida because of the soil, water table, and rainfall. This will never work.
The water table is way too high to do this. Plus, it’s sand, not rock. Just can’t do tunnels in Florida, and it’s why Florida houses don’t have basements. (Did you ever wonder why they don’t? Same reason)
That is why Disney built their “tunnels” in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot (and yes, there are some in Epcot also) the way it did. The park is technically on the second floor, and the tunnel system was built on top of the existing land. Then, dirt from the dredging of Seven Seas Lagoon was used to fill around it, making it feel like it was not built up.
There are a lot of ways to solve the International Drive/Epic/Universal Blvd issues, Express lane bridges over current roads like they do in many metro areas, or more intersections like 1982 & 436 where they eliminate lights for through traffic, similar to what they did, but tunnels are not one of them.
I agree with Trevor. The water table level would not support it structurally and it would sink or collapse. A potentially very dangerous idea. What impact would it have on the environment? The Space X property in Texas is creating a lot of pollution and land waste. It is also having a negative impact on the Kemps Ridley turtles, destroying their nesting areas. It has been reported that over 300 nestlings have been killed because of rocket forces compressing down on the sand and they can’t hatch. It shouldn’t always be about making money.
Anything Musk say is a lot of hot air, and that goes for Universal wanting to do something that would help the people of Orlando.
Gary, could it be that Chicago is so backward thinking and liberal that Elon washed his hands of the project knowing it would run multiple times the projected cost? Maybe it wasn’t smoke and mirrors but a sound business decision. Like the disastrous California high speed rail that has spend millions and nothing has happened?
Holly, there are quite a few people who expend “hot air” when they talk & produce NOTHING but I don’t think Musk is one of them. Better examples are in the US Congress!!