The Boring Company named The Woodlands a finalist in its nationwide Tunnel Vision Challenge this week, giving the township's bid for underground transit a serious push forward. The proposal, which the Township Board of Directors approved unanimously on February 19, calls for twin 12-foot-diameter tunnels carrying electric vehicles beneath the Town Center corridor.
The concept, called "The Current," would connect Waterway Square, the Waterway Marriott & Convention Center, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and Town Green Park. Township officials say the system would cut surface-level congestion during concerts and events and get rid of short car trips through Town Center, all without costing the township anything directly.
Township Chairman Brad Bailey said The Woodlands' existing layout and walkable Town Center make it a good fit for the tunnel technology. A winner is expected later this month. If The Woodlands is picked, it would be one of the first Boring Company Loop systems in a master-planned community.
The township got its proposal in ahead of the February 23 deadline. The announcement has gotten a lot of attention on social media, with supporters talking about reduced traffic and critics asking who pays for maintenance long-term.
