Alderman has “a lot of questions” about Elon Musk’s plan for O’Hare tunnel

Gilbert Villegas got a test ride Tuesday on the Tesla founder’s high-speed tunnel in LA

Gilbert Villegas and Elon Musk (Credit: Getty Images and iStock)
Gilbert Villegas and Elon Musk (Credit: Getty Images and iStock)

One of the Chicago aldermen who took a ride in Elon Musk’s high-speed transportation tunnel in Los Angeles said the experience left him with “a lot of questions” about plans for a similar project in Chicago.

Gilbert Villegas was part of the Chicago entourage that got to ride in the Tesla founder’s Hawthorne test tunnel Tuesday night. He said his trip was comfortable but “a little bumpy,” and he has concerns about how the O’Hare project will be financed and how vibrations from the digging could affect homeowners along the route.

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Musk in June announced plans for a high-speed underground tunnel between downtown and O’Hare Airport.

Musk has said his Boring Company can dig the 17-mile passageway and start carrying passengers in a few years for $1 billion. Emanuel has remained committed to the project, even though he leaves office in a few months. [Chicago Tribune] — John O’Brien