NashvilleMayor O'ConnellElon MuskTesla tunnelThe Boring CompanyTransitPetty politicsConcerns Nashville's Mayor reveals he knew about The Boring Company's interest in the tunnel connecting the Music City's airport to downtown for about a year without offering any support. Is it because Elon Musk spearheaded the project? Critics are questioning the mayor's motives. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said he knew about the project but cites concerns as the reason for withholding support. Metro Council member Courtney Johnston said this is all about petty politics versus real issues. An underground tunnel by Elon Musk's "The Boring Company" using Teslas to connect BNA to the parking lot next to the Andrew Johnson building in downtown is moving forward. On Friday, Mayor O'Connell said he had known about the Boring Company's interest since last year, around late spring or early summer. "Then it was sort of like I didn't hear about it again for almost a year," he said. Johnston said that despite his knowing about it, he refused to support it. "The council was not contacted... but the mayor’s office is who stopped that," she said. She questioned why he pushed a plan raising taxes for transit with his "Choose How You Move" program, but isn't publicly supporting a project with no cost to taxpayers. "He ran on transit. And this is transit. He ran on not having public dollars subsidizing private companies, and this is the exact opposite," she said. Johnston believes the real reason is that Elon Musk is behind the project. "It has to just be the petty politics of it," she said. Mayor O'Connell said he has concerns about the project itself. "Make sure that we've got surface integrity for the Murfreesboro Pike corridor," he said. He added that he worries about safety issues and potential costs. Johnston said it could bring sales tax revenue from fares charged in the tunnel. In addition, she said, The Boring Company only asked Mayor O'Connell as a courtesy since the state is the only one needed to approve the project. The question remains: Despite state approval, how much better would transit be with quicker access to Nashville streets? We will continue to press for answers. For more reports like this, click here. Stay Connected