Take a tour of Elon Musk's idea for fixing Los Angeles congestion.
After news broke earlier this week that the Boring Co.'s work in Hawthorne, California would make its debut on Tuesday, reports of the experience are starting to roll in.
First, Laura J. Nelson provides a review of the experience. Included in the article is the most complete video of the tunnel's performance, showing point of view, tunnel view, and Elon Musk commentary view as a modified Tesla Model X cruises through the tunnel at 53 mph (not the promised 150 mph).
"The trip through the tunnel took about two minutes, illuminated by the car’s headlights and a strip of blue neon lights tacked to the ceiling. The Model X rolled on two molded concrete shelves along the wall, which were so uneven in places that it felt like riding on a dirt road," according to Nelson. All in all, the Boring Co. has only provided a bumpy ride so far, according to Nelson.
According to an article by Alissa Walker, who also attended the opening, the experience of the tunnel so far is reminiscent of Disneyland. "The tunnel itself—painted white and installed with lighting that changes colors—as well as the spectacle surrounding the tunnel’s opening, was not unlike the opening of a new ride at Disneyland."
Then there's the perhaps most consequential opinion: that of Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas. The "Chicago alderman who was able to take a ride in an underground transportation tunnel built by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk said he still has 'a lot of questions' about how such a tube could be built in Chicago," according to an article by Mary Wisniewksi. The opinions of Chicago aldermen are extremely relevant to the prospects of the Boring Company's profitability, and Musk's ideas about transportation to the future of mobility. "In June, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Musk announced plans for an express, high-speed, underground connection between downtown and O’Hare International airport," according to Wisniewksi.
FULL STORY: Elon Musk unveils his company’s first tunnel in Hawthorne, and it’s not a smooth ride

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont