Could Nashville’s Tesla tunnel happen without any city approval? See who’s signing off

Elon Musk’s The Boring Company plans to build a tunnel from Nashville’s airport to downtown without involvement or approval from Nashville leaders.

How is that possible?

Essentially, if the tunnel follows under state-owned roadways as currently planned, the project will only need federal and state approval.

The government agencies charged with approving the project are the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“It is standard operating procedure to tailor each permit to its corresponding application,” a TDOT spokesperson said in a statement. “This being a first-of-its-kind project, we expect this request would result in an enhanced grading permit to address the large scope of work.”

Musk’s company also needs official approval from leadership in charge of the land where it aims to build each proposed tunnel station. Those are: the State Building Commision for the State Capitol station, the Convention Center Authority for the Music City Center station and the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board for the BNA station.

Still, the route itself and potential stations are in the preliminary planning stages and subject to change, Boring Co. Vice President David Buss said.

“This is something that we worked closely with the state in developing,” Buss said.

Can Music City Loop circumvent Nashville city approval?

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is notably absent from the list of required signatories. With its current route, The Boring Co. will not require approval from O’Connell or the 40-member Metro Nashville Council to build its tunnel from downtown to the airport.

“What we’ve heard so far is that the state is looking primarily at state land, state right-of-way,” O’Connell said on Aug. 8. “But I haven’t seen a detailed route map referenced, so don’t have the details on that.”

The Boring Co. made its first proposed tunnel route public in a meeting with the Convention Center Authority on Aug. 7. It runs from the Tennessee State Capitol down Rosa L. Parks Boulevard to 8th Avenue S., then takes Highway 41, crossing under what becomes Murfreesboro Pike and turning left under Donelson Pike to reach Nashville International Airport.

A spokesperson for the Nashville Department of Transportation clarified that Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and 8th Avenue are both state-owned and operated roads. The state owns Highway 41, Murfreesboro Pike and Donelson Pike as well.

Boring Co. approvals: State, federal and airport, convention center

Gov. Bill Lee offered up a football-field-sized parking lot at 637 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. as a construction launch site, and the State Building Commision unanimously approved a temporary lease of that property to The Boring Co. for free. Musk’s team assembled on the property prior to lease approval and digging was visible by Aug. 13.

The Boring Co. has “announced its intent to file a permit application” with TDOT, and an agency spokesperson said it will issue a permit if applicable.

TDOT will also require The Boring Co. to obtain a lease for “long-term occupancy and operation,” meaning the land the tunnel is bored into will remain state-owned. The Federal Highway Administration will also need to sign off on that lease, according to TDOT.

As for the potential airport and Music City Center stations, neither governing boards have taken a vote on participation in the project.

“At this time, we don’t have any additional details or timeframe for a board vote,” a BNA spokesperson said in a statement.

Music City Center President and CEO Charles Starks said he’s optimistic, but did not have a projected timeline for a board vote.

Metro reporter Austin Hornbostel contributed reporting to this story.

Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Boring Co.’s Music City Loop is bypassing Nashville approval