Plans for O'Hare Express Look Grim

The city of Chicago and Elon Musk are still negotiating a contract for the high-speed O'Hare tunnel. Mayor Rahm Emanuel had hoped to push this through the Chicago City Council before he departs from office in May. Both mayoral runoff candidates, Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle, have concerns about the need for such a project and also doubt whether it could even be built for $1 billion and without funding by taxpayers per Chicago Curbed.

Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale expressed his own concerns about laying out the 100 mph O'Hare tunnel before the city delivered on its promise to extend the CTA's Red Line south to 130th Street.

"I never said the O'Hare Express was dead. I did say that, if we were looking for federal funding, the biggest priority is the Red Line extension. If Mr. Musk would like to fund this thing totally off of his own personal checkbook, and it has no impact on our city resources, then that's a different story."

9th Ward Alderman | Anthony Beal

According to StreetsBlog, Elon Musk had proposed a jetsons-esque scheme to dig a tunnel from Block 57 to the airport and shoot travelers through them in 16-person 'electric sled' pods. The tech guru said he would build the 18 mile route for $1 billion and no taxpayer funding would be needed. The City of Chicago had also promised the route wouldn't use public money.

Last week the board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning approved the inclusion of the express project on northeastern Illinois' list of significant projects. The Chicago Department of Transportation had requested the inclusion of Musk's plan, which makes it eligible to receive federal funds and approvals. 

The plans call for a high speed tunnel between downtown Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. It will be powered by automated "electric skates" and the 100 mph system is poised to face strong political and regulatory headwinds.

Musk's company and the city are currently negotiating a contract for the O'Hare Express but it isn't clear if the contract will be settled before Emanuel leaves office.

Musk still has some hurdles to conquer along the way including making good on his company's promise to deliver substantially faster and cheaper tunneling technology to complete the O'Hare Express in 18 to 24 months at a cost of under $1 billion. Many experts are questioning the plausibility of that amount.

See 2 DataBid Blogs titled: A Look into Elon Musk's Airport Tunnel Project and Elon Musk's Boring Co. Selected for O'Hare Express System Project