Dallas could soon be getting a piece of Elon Musk’s underground transportation empire.
The Boring Company has officially selected University Hills, Hoque Global’s $1 billion real estate development in Southern Dallas, as one of just three national winners in its Tunnel Vision Challenge – A competition that drew in hundreds of submissions from cities across the country, all competing for a chance to build a tunnel with Musk’s team.
The proposed tunnel, reportedly up to one mile long with a 12-foot inner diameter, will run within the University Hills development and connect directly to the University of North Texas at its Dallas DART Station, creating what developers are describing as a seamless option to skirt traffic.
The two other winning projects from the Tunnels Vision Challenge were the “NOLA Loop” in New Orleans and the “Ravens Loop” in Baltimore.
The Challenge judged entries on three main factors: how “useful” the project would be in solving real transportation problems (including time savings for riders or freight), the level of genuine support from local stakeholders and community members, and whether the idea was technically and economically, realistic – essentially something that could actually get built on time and on budget using The Boring Company’s standard tunneling costs.
To apply, teams nationwide had to submit a clear description of the proposed tunnel and why it was needed, along with projected benefits such as time or cost savings for users, a map showing the exact potential layout, and a detailed history of who has owned the land.
City officials have already announced their excitement.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Dallas to explore innovative infrastructure solutions,” Dallas City Manager Bizor Tolbert told Fort Worth Inc. “A project like this showcases how emerging technology can help improve connectivity while demonstrating Dallas’ commitment to forward-thinking transportation and infrastructure ideas.”
The project is not guaranteed yet — it is contingent on feasibility studies, planning, and permitting. The Boring Company has said it will fund and build all three if feasible, or fewer if not.
“Once the diligence (100% funded by TBC) is complete, if all 3 projects are feasible, will fund/build all 3 – this would be awesome. If only 1 is feasible, will fund/build 1,” per The Boring Company.
A Not-So Boring Company
The Dallas announcement is just one chapter in The Boring Company’s expansion book.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the company signed its first international contract in February, partnering with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to construct an underground tunnel network as part of the Dubai Loop – a system designed to boost travelers through 12-foot-diameter tunnels at speeds up to 100 miles per hour using Tesla’s fleet of compatible electric cars. That $154 million pilot phase is already expected to begin tunneling by late 2026.
The Dubai deal, confirmed at the World Governments Summit 2026, was a major inflection point for a company whose only operating tunnel system remains in Las Vegas.
In January, Musk and his team secured their first construction permit from the City of Las Vegas for the ambitious Vegas Loop project. The approval clears the way for expansion beyond the existing Convention Center Loop, which has already carried thousands of passengers in Teslas since opening in 2021.
Once complete, the privately funded network aims to span 68 miles with 104 stations connecting the Strip, downtown Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and a collection of major hotels.
The Boring Company currently runs around 130 Teslas in the tunnel network and plans to significantly expand that fleet, hinting at the potential addition of higher-capacity “Robovans” for when big events come into town.
Construction on the Strip could kick off as early as this fall, with core sections wrapping up in 2027 and extensions following through 2028 and 2029 – all under a 50-year agreement giving The Boring Company control of city “right-of-way” laws and regulations. This deal may offer a preview of what an agreement between University Hills and Dallas officials could potentially look like.
The company is also currently looking at other cities in Texas for other projects, noting, “There were multiple other projects that TBC thought were so compelling that we are going to continue to work with the entrants and try to get them built. This includes the following two: – Hendersonville Utility Tunnel (Hendersonville, TN) – Morgan’s Wonderland Tunnel (San Antonio, TX).”