Officials with San Antonio-based Alamo Regional Mobility Authority said on March 16 that they are interested in talking with entrepreneur Elon Musk’s venture, The Boring Co., about the feasibility of developing a nearly $300 million underground tunnel to help curb increasing local traffic congestion.
“The [ARMA board] has continually sought innovative ways to finance transportation projects to ensure a bright future for the community in a way that bridges technology and accelerates the delivery of needed projects,” Board Chair Mike Lynd said. “Board action is the first of many discussions toward relieving congestion instead of waiting years.”
According to a news release, ARMA staff will be meeting with The Boring Co. in the coming weeks to talk about a tunnel that could run between the San Antonio International Airport and downtown.
The release said roughly estimated project costs range from $247 million to $289 million, depending on various factors, such as utilities and real estate.
Musk’s tunneling firm and another company, Bexar Automated Transport, were recent finalists in a process that began in October 2019, when the agency issued a request for information to gauge industry interest about partnering and developing a high-capacity transit project.
ARMA officials said they requested various kinds of information, such as new delivery methods for transportation projects, development of new revenue sources and identification of revenue sharing arrangements that would provide the ARMA with increased capacity to complete additional transportation projects.
The Boring Co. submitted its proposal in July 2021, pitching a transportation loop connecting the airport with downtown.
“The concept warranted further consideration, so the ARMA board authorized issuance of a request for qualifications and proposals,” the release said.
On Dec. 1, 2021, ARMA received proposals from five firms whose proposals were reviewed by agency staff; the number of proposals was narrowed to two by the beginning of 2022, the release said.
On March 2, three ARMA board members and staffers met and interviewed the two finalists due to concerns by the finalists over disclosing private financial information, the releasee said.
According to its mission statement, The Boring Co. “creates safe, fast-to-dig and low-cost transportation, utility and freight tunnels” to solve traffic challenges and to transform cities.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Boring Co. built a 1.7-mile-long, $47 million tunnel linking the Las Vegas Convention Center’s new exhibit hall and its older halls, reducing an average 45-minute cross-campus walk time to two minutes, the company said.
The company said it is building connections from the Las Vegas Convention Center tunnel to any future extensions, including resorts along the Las Vegas Strip, the Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium and downtown Las Vegas.
