NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As crews continue digging the Music City Loop, designed to connect downtown Nashville to the airport, local opposition is growing.

The Nashville branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation spoke out on Saturday, Sept. 27, raising concerns about safety, environmental risks, and transparency.

“We were kind of waiting, hoping, looking, and seeing who was going to do something about this, and it turned out it’s us,” said Nick Goodell, a member of the group.

The project -- which was announced by Tennessee officials and The Boring Company, which was founded by Elon Musk, in late July -- has been pitched as a fast connection for travelers. However, critics argue that it raises more problems than it solves.

“There are just all kinds of unanswered questions about the safety of people’s homes and businesses...Trevecca Nazarene University is right there on Murfreesboro [Road],” Goodell said. “That whole university, they’re digging under the ground under a university. This impacts tens of thousands of people, and there’s just been no opportunity for public comment whatsoever.”

Tristan Warner, another group member, said the plan is more about headlines than helping Nashville.

“It’s not really going to solve a problem; it's not really going to serve the people of Nashville,” Warner said. “It’s largely a show, as a lot of things with Elon Musk are, and, unfortunately, a lot of politicians want to connect themselves to that show for press purposes.”

Metro Councilman Jacob Kupin, whose district includes part of the tunnel, said he has been left out of much of the discussion, but they're currently digging on state property, so there is not much he can do at this time.

“From the beginning, I said that I was disappointed that I, as the district council member where they’re starting their project, wasn’t really included in those conversations,” Kupin said. “I'm someone who's open to various ideas to solve our multimodal transit problem. I still have not seen any lease documents or legal documents, and I've told folks who've asked me, I can’t really be for or against something that I haven’t seen.”

Gov. Bill Lee, however, voiced confidence in the state’s handling of the project.

“I feel very confident that they are committed both to transparency, to getting questions answered, to interactions with the public, and to building a transit system in this city that will transform the way people live and work and move in this city,” Lee said earlier this month.

Opponents said they will continue to push for answers as the project moves forward.

“This isn’t what the people need,” Goodell said. “The people need and demand real, affordable, efficient public transportation — not a billionaire’s vanity project.”

For more details on the Music City Loop, visit the Boring Company’s website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/debate-deepens-over-music-city-loop/