Music City Center board approves Boring Co. easement for tunnel work under convention complex
Approval advances underground “Music City Loop” plans through downtown Nashville
The governing board for Nashville’s Music City Center has approved an easement agreement with The Boring Company, clearing a key step that would allow tunnel-related construction to proceed beneath or adjacent to the convention complex.
The action, scheduled for consideration at the Convention Center Authority’s March 24, 2026 meeting, places the project formally on the board’s agenda as “The Boring Company – Easement Agreement.” The Convention Center Authority is the public body that oversees Music City Center operations and property decisions tied to the convention campus.
What the agreement represents
An easement is a legal right granted by a property controller that allows another party limited use of a defined area for a specific purpose. In transportation infrastructure, easements are commonly used to permit subsurface alignment, construction access, or related utility and maintenance needs without transferring ownership of the underlying property.
For Music City Center, the easement is one of the practical prerequisites for a potential station connection at the convention center site. Project materials previously presented to Music City Center officials described a concept that could place a station on the bottom level of the facility’s parking garage, contingent on board approval.
How this fits into the broader tunnel project
The Boring Company’s Nashville proposal—marketed as the “Music City Loop”—has been described publicly as an underground transit system intended to link Nashville International Airport and downtown Nashville, with additional segments and stations discussed as potential expansions. State leaders announced the project in July 2025 with an initial airport-to-downtown concept and an accelerated construction timeline.
Construction activity has been visible near the Tennessee State Capitol area, where early site work has included excavation intended to evaluate subsurface conditions and prepare for tunneling. The company has also stated the system would be privately funded and would charge riders a fare.
Key issues under continuing scrutiny
Local oversight and transparency: Metro Nashville’s legislative body has adopted a resolution opposing the project, citing concerns that include limited local input and a desire for more detailed public information.
Engineering and safety planning: As with other major underground projects, residents and officials have raised questions about emergency response planning, ventilation, and tunnel operations.
Permitting and interagency coordination: The project has involved multiple approvals tied to state-controlled corridors and property agreements, alongside site-specific permissions such as those required at the airport and major destination properties.
What happens next
The easement approval positions the convention center campus to become a formal participant in the project’s downtown footprint. Further steps would typically include detailed design coordination, construction staging plans, and any additional property or operational agreements needed if a station is ultimately built at Music City Center.
Meeting agenda item: “The Boring Company – Easement Agreement” (Convention Center Authority meeting, March 24, 2026).