Why this project by Musk's Boring Company is under scrutiny
What's the story
The Nashville Metro Council has accused Elon Musk's Boring Company of excluding them from the Music City Loop project. It is a proposed $300 million underground tunnel connecting Downtown Nashville to the Nashville International Airport. The 16km privately funded tunnel is considered one of Tennessee's most ambitious transportation projects. However, council member Delishia Porterfield has raised concerns over a lack of transparency in the process.
Concerns raised
Porterfield's concerns about 'back-room deal'
Porterfield expressed her concerns over what she sees as a "back-room deal" between the state and the Boring Company. She said, "I'm looking at a back-room deal that our state did with the company without engaging the people or the local government." The project was first announced by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who called it "the coolest announcement that we've made since I've been here."
Project speed
Rapid project progress raises questions
Porterfield also voiced her frustration over the rapid progress of the project without proper community engagement. She said, "Government does not move that fast, so for this to move so quickly without real community engagement, without having questions answered, without engaging with our local government... it is very frustrating." The Boring Company had claimed they were in talks with state officials since March 2024 but declined a formal presentation at a committee meeting.
Meeting refusal
Boring Company's response to the controversy
The Boring Company, while saying they were committed to transparency and community engagement, refused to meet with the Metro Council. They said they had no business before the council as they were working with the state. After initial reluctance, company officials later expressed willingness for a meeting but did not respond to specific requests from Porterfield or other council members.
Past projects
Skepticism about Boring Company's track record
The Boring Company has a history of promising projects that don't materialize, with only Las Vegas and test tunnels in Texas seeing any progress. This pattern has led to skepticism about their commitment to the Nashville project. Dr. Warren Sturman, former vice mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Juan Matute, Deputy Director of Transportation Studies at UCLA, have both noted this trend in the company's operations.
Project concerns
Environmental violations in Las Vegas tunnel
The Boring Company has also faced criticism for seeking exemptions from California's environmental review laws. They settled a lawsuit after neighbors sued over this issue, and abandoned the project. In Las Vegas, the company violated environmental regulations nearly 800 times in two years at its only public tunnel. Nevada regulators fined them over $240,000 for violations including unauthorized digging and discharging untreated water onto city streets.