The city of Chicago is moving forward with plans to build a high-speed rail line between O’Hare International Airport and downtown, and Elon Musk’s Boring Company has announced that it will submit a bid to build the public-transportation link.
The Chicago Infrastructure Trust recently issued a Request for Qualifications for the O’Hare Express System. The goal of the project is to cut travel time between the airport and downtown Chicago to 20 minutes or less.
“Express service to and from O’Hare will give Chicagoans and visitors to our great city more options, faster travel times, and build on Chicago’s competitive advantage as a global hub of tourism, transportation, and trade,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Musk announced on Twitter on November 29 that the Boring Company “will compete to fund, build and operate a high-speed Loop connecting Chicago O’Hare Airport to downtown.”
The public-private project would be completely funded by the winner bidder, funded by revenues from sources such as fares and advertising.
“Strengthening connections between the economic engines of downtown Chicago and O’Hare airport, at no cost to taxpayers, will build on Chicago’s legacy of innovation and pay dividends for generations to come,” said Emanuel.
Part of the process will be to determine the corridor in which trains would run. City officials said they are open to both above- and below-ground routes. Boring Company’s experience is in tunneling, suggesting that it would propose an underground system.
