The Boring Company reveals proposed route for Music City Loop as questions remain for Nashvillians

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Boring Company revealed their proposed route for the Music City Loop as they move ahead with plans to build the tunnel from downtown Nashville to the Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Vice President of Corporate Operations for The Boring Company David Buss presented a draft route to members of Nashville’s Convention Center Authority at a meeting Thursday morning.

Map of proposed route for The Boring Company's Music City Loop tunnel. Courtesy: The Boring Company

The map showed the tunnel beginning near the state capitol and following under 8th Avenue S to the Music City Center before continuing under Highway 41 and Murfreesboro Pike and ending at the BNA.

The tunnel will used a closed system of Teslas to transport passengers and will not be open to other privately owned personal vehicles.

Buss explained that the entrance and exits for the tunnels take up a small footprint on the surface. The tunnels also require a control center where operations personnel can keep an eye on the system and drivers. He said the tunnel system has camera visibility of the inside operations with no blind spots.

“They’re connected entirely to the operations control center at all times,” Buss said. “They have a headset on, they’re communicating. We know where all the cars are at any time, we know where all the drivers are.”

Drivers are hired by The Boring Company, not contracted out, Buss said.

“We do an interview process, it’s an extensive interview process, including practical training, including, as I said, they have to back out of the tunnel,” Buss said. “It’s about a 10 percent acceptance rate.”

When asked about the potential for a driverless system, Buss noted that the technology is there and could be implemented in the future, but for now, the company prefers drivers to be in the vehicles to put passengers at ease in a new system.

Convention Center Authority board member Robert Davidson told WSMV The Boring Company plans to connect the tunnel to the Music City Center through its existing underground parking garage. He added that they pitched leasing a 7,000-square foot section of the garage for the Teslas to drop off and pick up riders.

The Boring Company also shared insights from their existing Las Vegas Loop tunnel, saying more than three million passengers have used the system to date, including more than 32,000 in one day. Buss added that the tunnel in Las Vegas was built during large conventions without disturbing attendees or having to close any roads.

But those who live near the proposed route still have concerns about how the construction could impact them.

“The only thing I’m concerned about is stuff giving way as they’re working on it,” said Nick Gingerich. “Maybe Murfreesboro Pike’s not sturdy enough, maybe there’s air pockets through here, sinkholes could happen.”

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also has questions about the project. He sent a list of dozens of questions to The Boring Company this week, also clarifying that the Mayor’s Office first heard of the company’s interest in Nashville in May of 2024, but did not assess that there was an intent to pursue the proposal until recently.

Despite the uncertainty from residents and elected officials in Nashville, The Boring Company appears to be moving forward with the project. WSMV teams saw employees working at the tunnel starting site near the state capitol Thursday afternoon.