It’s not just Austin, DFW: Elon Musk’s Boring Company also talking with San Antonio transportation officials

The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority board of directors is advancing discussions with The Boring Company about a potential high-capacity transportation project to reduce traffic congestion on San Antonio-area roadways.

Alamo RMA staff plans to meet with the company, founded by Elon Musk, in the coming weeks. Officials have put a rough estimate for a project connecting the San Antonio International Airport area with downtown at $247 million to $289 million, depending on various factors including utilities and real estate, among other variables.

Alamo RMA Board Chair Mike Lynd said the decision by the organization to advance talks is another step “towards relieving congestion instead of waiting years.”

Alamo RMA is a San Antonio-based agency created to improve transportation in Bexar County.

Boring Co. is digging tunnels that can whisk vehicles underground in an effort to relieve traffic pressures. Its discussions in San Antonio come as the company also meets with officials at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, based in the Dallas area. Meanwhile, representatives from the company have also reportedly met with city of Austin personnel. In concert, they represent the growing role Musk’s company is playing in Texas transit discussions, and more widely how the billionaire’s constellation of business interests increasingly focuses on the Lone Star State.

In October 2019, Alamo RMA issued an open request for information (RFI) to gauge industry interest from public and private entities in collaborating with the authority. Information requested included development of new delivery methods for transportation projects, development of new revenue sources, and identification of revenue sharing arrangements that would provide the RMA increased capacity to complete additional transportation projects.

In July 2021, a firm submitted a response to the open RFI proposing a transportation loop connecting the San Antonio airport to downtown. The RMA board authorized issuance of a Request for Qualifications and Proposals.

Nearly six months ago, the RMA issued a request for qualifications and proposals for a potential approach to design and construct a transportation project generally connecting the San Antonio airport area to downtown San Antonio. In December, the RMA received proposals from five firms.

In March, RMA board members and staff interviewed two finalists, including The Boring Co.

“The Board has continually sought innovative ways to finance transportation projects to ensure a bright future for the community in a way that bridges technology and accelerates the delivery of needed projects,” Land said.

The Boring Co. has rolled out a project in Las Vegas and has been involved in more. It has submitted plans to build a 6.2-mile tunnel transit system in Miami, Business Insider reported earlier this year.

Courtesy of Austin Business Journal. See the full article here.