By Lynda Myer
The Boring Company’s suggestion of constructing an underground transit connection between the present Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station and Ontario International Airport (ONT), has been accepted by The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.
In accordance to SBCTA report in 3th of February, The Boring Company was the only company to reply to a recent plea for Qualifications (RFQ) to build the almost four-mile tunnel, which will link Metrolink’s busiest line with the nation’s fastest-growing airport three years running. The subterranean transit system would carry thousands of passengers every day among the Rancho Cucamonga station and the airport using vehicles with no hazardous emission.
In this regard, this action follows a contract which has been concluded with HNTB for construction management services and the time period of completion is estimated to be 48 months.
Curt Hagman, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, stated:” The Ontario Airport Loop project represents an innovative, cost-effective and sustainable approach in meeting the mobility needs of one of the most robust population and economic centers in the United States.”
The major reason of SBCTA to peruse the feasibility of such a project was Hagman’s vision for a tunneling project, that finally led to issue the RFQ.
“ONT is one of the aviation industry’s greatest success stories and a critical economic driver for our region. We need to take steps now to ensure that we can adequately handle our continued long-term growth and avoid the kinds of congestion issues that have become a significant problem for other airport communities,” said Alan D. Wapner, Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners and a Past President of SBCTA.
A budget of approximately $85 million has been predicted for this project by SBCTA, which is almost a fraction of what it would cost to build an above-ground rail or light rail connection.
At Las Vegas Convention Center as part of a people transit system, two tunnels with about a mile length has been built beneath this center by the Boring Company, which is supported by Elon Musk and headquartered in the Los Angeles area. Alike to the concept at ONT, the Las Vegas project aims to shuttle passengers via autonomous electric vehicles.
