The Boring Company has responded with an 18-page document of answers to Metro’s list of questions regarding the Music City Loop airport-to-downtown tunnel project.
Clifton Peay, director of performance management at the mayor’s office, sent a list of nearly 80 questions via email to Boring Company vice president of business development Jim Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald responded on Sept. 4, according to records obtained by Scene sister publication the Nashville Post.
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“The [document] goal is to address the intent of inquiries, clarify project design, operations, safety, and planning considerations, and offer transparency throughout the project,” the document reads. “[The Boring Company] is happy to engage in multiple conversations and provide updated versions as additional information or feedback becomes available.”
Many of Metro’s questions focus on safety and emergency response, environmental concerns, project construction and funding, the impact on Metro utility lines and what entity will have authority over the proposed 9.5-mile tunnel.
According to The Boring Company’s response, the project cost is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars, and it will be 100 percent privately funded. If any injuries were to occur within the tunnel, Music City Loop would be responsible. Boring officials say injuries are unlikely “due to Music City Loop’s advanced safety features.”
The Boring Company says no road closures or detours are expected as a result of the construction. Additionally, the company says several permits will be required for the tunnel, with those permits likely to involve both the state and Metro.
Concerns have been raised regarding construction challenges posed by limestone rock and water, and sewer and stormwater lines that run underground.
“Detailed geotechnical investigations and utility surveys are underway along the alignment to assess the limestone formations and map existing underground infrastructure,” reads The Boring Company’s response.
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“This work will ensure geological conditions and utility conflicts are fully understood and addressed prior to tunneling operations.”
The company says it will cover the cost of relocating utility lines if necessary and that rain and floodwater will not impact the tunnel due to its stations being elevated and the implementation of barriers and drains with pumps to prevent water from running into the system.
It remains unclear whether long-term ownership of the tunnel will lie in the hands of The Boring Company, the Metro Airport Authority and/or the state. The Boring Company says that matter is “under review and will be publicly released once finalized.”
Metro also inquired about the potential impact on its "Choose How You Move" transit initiative.
“The project’s inclusion in broader regional and state transportation planning initiatives is possible, though no meeting date has been scheduled,” The Boring Company says.
“Future expansions could include stations and routes across other Nashville communities, with potential alignments determined based on the city’s growth, transit needs, and input from the public."
Regarding emergency response, The Boring Company says it has held “productive meetings” with the Nashville Fire Department and state Fire Marshal’s Office. The company says the tunnels are designed to align with standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association, which require exit spacing of no more than 2,500 feet.
The Boring Company repeatedly notes in its emails to Peay its offer to have meetings with Metro and to host a tour of the Las Vegas Loop, a similar tunnel project that has been completed by the company.
“TBC would also like to reiterate our standing offer for an in-person, productive discussion with the appropriate offices from the City of Nashville,” Fitzgerald writes. “TBC also re-extends our standing offer to tour the TBC Las Vegas Loop for Fire Chief Swan and his team and any appropriate members of the Mayor's Office.”
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
