The Boring Company Amtrak Contract: Elon Musk's Firm in Talks

Federal Railroad Administration Engages The Boring Company in Amtrak Project Discussions

According to reports from The New York Times, discussions are underway between federal railroad regulators and The Boring Company (TBC), the tunneling firm owned by Elon Musk.

These conversations center around a potentially multibillion-dollar Amtrak project, specifically the Frederick Douglass Tunnel program.

Exploring Cost-Saving Measures

Sources with knowledge of the situation indicate that officials from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have been in contact with TBC.

The purpose of these discussions is to determine if Musk’s company could offer cost reductions for the tunnel project.

Project Cost Concerns

Initially estimated at $6 billion, the project connecting Baltimore to Washington and Virginia now faces projected costs reaching as high as $8.5 billion.

This significant increase in estimated expenses has prompted the FRA to explore all available options for potential savings.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Although TBC was among multiple companies evaluated for a new engineering contract, the nature of these talks has raised concerns.

These concerns relate to Elon Musk’s numerous and potentially conflicting roles and interests.

Musk currently divides his time between leadership positions in his various companies, his advisory role to former President Trump, and his involvement with DOGE.

Critics suggest that these commitments could lead to a diversion of resources from agencies responsible for regulating his businesses.

Potential impacts on regulatory oversight are being closely examined as the project progresses.