More than 100 people gathered for a community meeting regarding The Boring Company’s Music City Loop tunnel project Monday night.
Organized by state Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Metro Councilmember At-Large Delishia Porterfield, the event was held at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill — located adjacent to The Boring Company’s current drill site at a state-owned parking lot downtown.
Several other councilmembers also attended the community meeting, along with state lawmakers including Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis).
Oliver has been vocal in her opposition to the forthcoming 19 miles of tunnel, which will run underneath her district and initially stretch from the Nashville International Airport to downtown. It will be used as means for Teslas to transport users. The Boring Company has said it is considering adding additional stations in Nashville.
Oliver has cited concerns that no members of the Tennessee General Assembly's Davidson County delegation were informed of the project or have been able to adequately communicate with The Boring Company in recent months.
At Monday’s town hall, Oliver scrutinized the tunnel’s potential impact on the city’s environment, safety and infrastructure — concerns that have been continuously echoed by councilmembers and Nashville residents since the project was first announced in July.
Music City Loop continues to raise concerns from local officials over transparency, safety, environmental factors
The Boring Company has faced additional criticism for a lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the project. Company officials met with councilmembers at a public committee meeting last month but have not yet held a public, in-person event with community members regarding the Music City Loop.
“We don't dispute that this concept is innovative, and some might find this project useful,” Oliver said Monday night. “But it is not a good fit for Nashville. And so until The Boring Company respects the democratic process that we hold dear in the city, I will be opposed. Until they can show that they are operating in good faith and in good governance, I will be opposed. And until my district tells me otherwise, I will be opposed to this project.”
Oliver is sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 684, which is up for consideration before the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee Wednesday. The resolution opposes the tunnel and condemns The Boring Company for lack of transparency and community engagement.
Porterfield has also been outspoken in her opposition to the project. She is the lead sponsor of a nonbinding resolution being heard before the council Tuesday night that would oppose the Music City Loop entirely. She addressed the town hall attendees, also noting that the council has not been included in conversations involving the tunnel.
Porterfield mentioned state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson’s (R-Franklin) recent proposal of the "Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Act,” which would create an 11-member state oversight board for the project and also feature a 20-member staff. Appointees would come from the governor and speakers of the state House and Senate and include other related state officials.
“We also believe that Nashville has a right to self-govern,” Porterfield said Monday, characterizing Johnson’s proposal as state overreach and preemption.
Steve Davis offers Music City Loop details during virtual town hall meeting; the same day, construction crews leave site due to safety, pay concerns
She noted that The Boring Company and leading state Republicans, including Gov. Bill Lee, have championed the project and continually claim that it will come at zero cost to taxpayers. However, Johnson’s proposed oversight board would come with a $5 million price tag — funded by the state.
While there has been notable opposition to the project, many local business and tourism and hospitality professionals in the city have said they support the tunnel and view it as a key economic development project for the region.
After Monday’s town hall, Oliver told the Scene that she understands the backing of the tunnel, but that it will not sufficiently benefit everyday residents of Davidson County.
“Nashville just can't run off of hospitality,” Oliver said. “[Hospitality professionals] have a vested interest to make their business run, and their businesses primarily are supported by tourists. So of course they would be for this. I don't expect them not to be. They want to keep business coming in. Is it innovative? Perhaps. Is it something that solves the problem for Nashville? No."
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
