The Boring Company has won the bid to build an underground commuter system in Chicago, from the Loop to O’Hare International Airport, that’s hailed as one of the busiest in the world.
The company website has disclosed further details: the Chicago high-speed system will have 16-passenger vehicles traveling up to 150 miles or 240 km per hour. The tunnel will help cut the present 30-to-45-minute trip between the business district and the airport of the city down to 12 minutes.
Boring stated that this project will be cent-per-cent privately funded. Owner Elon Musk and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel are to announce the proposal today in the city, as the Chicago Tribune has reported.
About a month ago, Musk revealed his plan to build a network of personalized mass transit tunnels under Los Angeles. He also added that it will be built without noise or disturbance on the surface.
Boring’s effort to win city approval has been drawn to court by two neighborhood organizations. According to them, Musk’s company seeking the immunity violates the state law that forbids waivers for large projects on a piecemeal basis.
On the other hand, Musk is also facing production issues for his hyped Model 3 sedan at Tesla. Several investors have shown concerns regarding his overlapping leadership roles for Tesla, SpaceX and Boring have himself in an uncomfy juggle.
Mayor Emanuel of Chicago seems to think differently on this, as the Tribune reports. To quote him: “We’re taking a bet on a guy who doesn’t like to fail – and his resources. There are a bunch of Teslas on the road. He put SpaceX together. He’s proven something.” Way to go, Elon!