The Woodlands looks below ground with tunnel to ease vehicle, pedestrian congestion

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (KTRK) -- The Woodlands is hoping its modern-day people mover proposal will win a challenge and pay for a new way for people to get around.

Below parts of the Las Vegas strip is a tunnel that moves vehicles around. An experience some Woodlands officials had to see for themselves.

Recently, they went to the Sin City attraction and shared a video with neighbors, hoping it could be a hit in the Montgomery County township.

"If they do it right, I think it could be fantastic," Edwin Rosser said.

"Not a fan," Micalah Ross said.

Elon Musk's business, The Boring Company, is behind the Vegas tunnel. To create more of them, the company asked people, companies, or governments to submit one-mile proposals.

The Woodlands did just that. A below-ground mover officials said they need because of traffic and parking problems between stores, hotels, and a concert venue that attracts 600,000 people each year.

"If you live around the pavilion, you kind of stay home," Ross said.

This wouldn't just be to help ease vehicle traffic. Officials also want the tunnel to be for pedestrians.

They estimate it could save several minutes. Instead of having to stop at intersections, you could keep walking. In all, they estimate it could cut nearly 10 minutes off your walk time.

The Woodlands will find out by March 23. If selected, Musk's company, not taxpayers, would fund the tunnel.

Residents, however, still have a say. Woodlands officials said they would hold meetings and do environmental studies.

Even with the groundwork, some neighbors aren't sure if they'd use it.

"I like to walk around and get some sunshine and get some exercise," Rosser explained.

"Probably not," Ross said. "I've been in the Woodlands my whole life. I know the above-ground stuff. I don't want to take it below."

"I would probably try it," Ben Ross said.

First, the city's proposal has to be selected before anything like this takes you around the Woodlands.

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