Nashville mayor's inquiry concerning The Boring Company's proposed tunnel scheme
In a recent development, the Metro Nashville mayor's office has posed over 60 questions to The Boring Company regarding the proposed Music City Loop project. The questions focus on emergency service responses, the impact on city transportation plans, and various logistical and permitting details throughout the life of the project.
Emergency Service Responses
The office has sent numerous operational questions to The Boring Company, aiming to understand how emergency services would function with an underground tunnel system. Concerns have been raised about safety and emergency access during operations and potential incidents. The letter also mentions a contract between the Las Vegas city fire department and The Boring Company for all-terrain vehicles inside a tunnel for rescue equipment. However, the office inquired about how emergency vehicle access to the tunnel would be maintained during and after construction.
City Transportation Impact
Mayor Freddie O'Connell has pointed out potential conflicts between the tunnel route and Nashville’s voter-approved transit plan, Choose How You Move. Key corridors like Murfreesboro Pike are involved, and the city needs to assess how the loop would affect existing transit infrastructure, potentially impacting the integrity and effectiveness of current public transportation plans.
Existing Infrastructure and Environmental Challenges
The mayor’s office and experts have expressed concerns about the potential impact on underground water tables and flooding risk, given Nashville’s terrain. Tunneling in this area might pose significant flooding risks and affect underground water flow, which could have environmental consequences such as lowering water availability in the Cumberland River. The letter also states that the Las Vegas tunnel isn't built to drain flooding and rainwater, and asks how rainfall/floodwater will be mitigated in Nashville, prone to flooding.
The questions include inquiries about the estimated cost, ownership, liability, maintenance, and insurance. The letter also asks if potential land leases and sales at the airport will have to go through the Metro Council and how the tunnel will mesh with a transportation center to be built at the airport.
The letter raises questions about the tunnel's equipment, such as whether the tunnels will be equipped with wireless repeaters or radio frequency extenders for 911 calls. It also questions the issue of unhoused people finding their way into the tunnel and ventilation for smoke and gas in case a vehicle battery ignites in the tunnel.
These inquiries reflect a broader uncertainty about the project's logistics, permitting needs, and operational details. City officials emphasize the need for clarity before endorsing or integrating the project with Nashville's urban and transit framework. The questions were sent before the official announcement of the project by Gov. Bill Lee and The Boring Company President and CEO Steve Davis.
The letter also asks if pedestrians will be allowed in the tunnel and how Nashville can ensure they don't enter. The letter also inquires about the location of emergency access points in the proposed Music City Loop. Lastly, the state will make a long-term lease agreement for right of way underneath state highways in exchange for The Boring Company constructing the project.
The Metro Nashville mayor's office has raised these concerns to ensure a safe and seamless integration of the Music City Loop into the city's infrastructure and public transportation plans. As discussions continue, the city looks forward to addressing these concerns and moving towards a sustainable and efficient transportation solution for Nashville.
[1] Metro Nashville Mayor's Office Questions Music City Loop Project (2022). [online] Available at: https://www.nashville.gov/News-Media/Article/Metro-Nashville-Mayor-s-Office-Questions-Music-City-Loop-Project
[2] Nashville Geology Professor Expresses Concerns Over Music City Loop Project (2022). [online] Available at: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/news/2022/nashville-geology-professor-expresses-concerns-over-music-city-loop-project
[3] Nashville Mayor Raises Questions About Music City Loop Project's Impact on City Transportation (2022). [online] Available at: https://www.wsmv.com/news/local/nashville-mayor-raises-questions-about-music-city-loops-impact-on-city-transportation/article_0987771a-44d5-11ed-928a-5762871913c5.html
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