By Jim Carchidi
February 11, 2026
The board of Universal Orlando Resort’s special district approved negotiations for a state-of-the-art addition that’s not a theme park attraction.
Negotiations begin
Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District will begin talks with Elon Musk’s infrastructure firm, The Boring Company, on a new transit system linking Universal Orlando parks and hotels. Board members made the announcement on Wednesday, Feb. 11, after a request for qualifications (RFQ) issued in the third quarter of 2025 pitted Musk’s company against two other finalists, V2R and Sunshine Connection Partners.
“Of the three RFQ responses, Board members determined that The Boring Company’s proposal best addressed the District’s request for an innovative, future-ready, point-to-point solution,” reads a post on the Shingle Creek District website.
However, the post does not mention tunnels, which Musk’s firm is best known for.
Next-level transportation
The Boring Company developed the Vegas Loop transit system serving the Las Vegas Convention Center. The 2+ mile tunnel system opened in 2021 and is about 40 feet underground. The initial design cost approximately $53 million, but extensions are being added.
Tesla vehicles with human drivers shuttle passengers through the system, reaching top speeds of 35 miles per hour. According to Vegas Convention Center information, typical 25 minute walk times between destinations take about two minutes using The Loop. The plan is for current transports to be replaced by autonomous vehicles.
Difficult, not impossible
Typically, Florida’s shallow water table and limestone geology makes any underground structures difficult, expensive, and prone to flooding. But not impossible. Notable examples are:
- PortMiami Tunnel: A 0.8-mile tunnel beneath Biscayne Bay connecting the MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island with PortMiami on Dodge Island.
- Henry E. Kinney Tunnel (Fort Lauderdale): A 864-foot-long, four-lane underwater tunnel bringing U.S. Route 1 beneath the New River and Las Olas Boulevard.
And Walt Disney World Resort is famous for the utility tunnels at Magic Kingdom that house cast member facilities and access backstage areas throughout the park.
Next steps
Meetings with local stakeholders will accompany the negotiations and the Shingle Creek District Board will issue a new RFQ if no agreement is reached. No timetable was listed for the negotiations or a decision.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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