Boring Into Boring

Councilmembers took swings at The Boring Co. during yesterday’s special-called Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting, pressing company representatives over the proposed Music City Loop.

The underground tunnel project connecting Nashville International Airport to downtown continues to advance, but several council members voiced frustration over limitations on their involvement.

Questions centered on public safety, environmental impact, ADA compliance, and emergency response—with occasional barbs aimed at CEO Elon Musk underscoring the tension in the room.

Councilmember Olivia Hill—a former engineer—offered some technical defense supporting the viability of tunneling in Nashville, noting that Davidson County’s geology is well-suited for the project.

“We have numerous tunnels in Davidson County because we have good rock,” said Hill. “Our oldest one is DES. It was put in in 1974—really not that far from the Cumberland River—and they've not ever had any trouble with flooding or collapses or anything like that.”

Hill also recounted how a tunnel actually protected Vanderbilt Children's Hospital during the May 2010 flood: “That tunnel completely flooded in a matter of a few minutes, and it saved the Children's Hospital from flooding.”

The Boring Co. pledged to follow up with councilmembers to address outstanding questions from the presentation. Though the theatrics of the meeting drew attention, the council’s support—or lack thereof—ultimately carries limited weight.

Since its announcement, the Music City Loop has gone full steam ahead. Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously approved a lease agreement backing the 10-mile tunnel project. Under the deal, the Boring Co. will pay an annual licensing fee starting at $300,000 for the right to use airport property for up to 50 years. The company also agreed to pay the airport $5 per customer drop-off and pickup once the system is operational.