The Boring Company hopes airport tunnel is "first leg" of Nashville system
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The Boring Company vice president David Buss discusses plans for Nashville in a meeting of the Convention Center Authority on Thursday. Photo: Nate Rau/Axios
The Boring Company doesn't want to merely build a Tesla tunnel connecting Nashville's downtown to the airport.
- Elon Musk's company hopes to use community conversations for feedback on where to build an entire tunnel network throughout the city, according to a presentation on Thursday by a top Boring Company executive.
Why it matters: In a presentation to the Metro Convention Center Authority, Boring Company vice president David Buss painted a rosy picture of a proposed tunnel in Nashville, touting the company's technology, its track record of safety and its 100% privately financed project.
- It was the most publicly released details about the Music City Loop plans to date.
Driving the news: The presentation confirmed details previously reported by Axios showing the Music City Loop beginning at a state-owned parking lot downtown, traveling under Rosa Parks Boulevard south past the convention center, turning down Lafayette Street and then primarily continuing under Murfreesboro Pike to the airport.
- Buss described the Boring Company's digging technology as "porpoising" underground in a minimally invasive way that won't disrupt the roads or businesses above.
- He reiterated the project would be paid for by the Boring Company and explained the firm makes its money on fares paid by passengers who use Tesla taxis to and from the airport.
- Buss said the company's loop system in Las Vegas has not experienced any major safety incidents and is connected to a fire detection and suppression system.
Zoom in: Music City Center CEO Charles Starks said there have been initial talks with the Boring Company about connecting the convention hall underground to the tunnel along Rosa Parks Boulevard.
- The company has also engaged the Nashville Electric Service in early talks about its tunnel plans, including how the Tesla vehicles would recharge. The Boring Company plans to employ dozens of workers in the initial phase of its project and later hopefully add hundreds of jobs, Buss said.
The intrigue: But the most fascinating part of his presentation was the concept of expanding the tunnel system throughout the city. He began his speech by describing the BNA tunnel as a "first leg."
- In order to expand, Buss said the firm hoped to have community conversations about where else its tunnel system would be useful.
Friction point: Convention Center Authority board member Robert Davidson challenged the Boring Company's concept as something the typical Nashvillian wouldn't necessarily find too useful.
- "The average Nashvillian could care less if bachelorettes get here [quickly]," Davidson said. "Our airport's so convenient compared to Denver or Chicago, it's not a big deal."
- "I would see Murfreesboro-to-Nashville," Davidson said, pointing to the oppressive commute to and from the growing suburb. "There's your hot spot. That would be more attractive to the community than the airport-to-downtown."
What he's saying: Buss said the company has looked at ridership and thinks there's value to the system.
- "One of the things you're suggesting is exactly what we want," Buss told Davidson. "We want to solicit opinions from the community about how the system could be even more useful."
Meanwhile, Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration briefed Metro Council earlier this week about its long list of questions about the project's safety, engineering feasibility and other issues.
- Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield said she's interested in inviting the Boring Company to brief the council about its plans.