It's getting more and more likely that Elon Musk will get the chance to build a high-speed transit system connecting O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago.
The city announced Wednesday that two companies---Musk's The Boring Company and O’Hare Xpress LLC---have moved forward in the process to select a builder for the O’Hare Express system. The two companies were whittled down from four finalists that were announced earlier this year.
Both The Boring Company and O'Hare Express were chosen based on their "qualifications and ability to deliver the critical project with no public subsidy," the city said in a news release.
The city is looking to build an express train that will get riders from O'Hare to downtown in 20 minutes or less. Rides must cost less than a current taxi or Uber/Lyft ride, and operate at least every 15 minutes throughout the day. The winning company will be asked to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the transit system.
“Strengthening connections between Chicago’s economic engines will drive our economy into the future, build on the city’s legacy of innovation and pay dividends for generations to come," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a news release. “Today, we have two teams that have the ability to get the job done and create an express connection between downtown Chicago and O’Hare Airport without a taxpayer subsidy."
The city said the transit system may be above or below ground, which is likely the route The Boring Company would take. Founded in 2016, the company was born out of Musk's frustration with L.A. traffic and his idea to move vehicles through high-speed underground tunnels.
The city said both companies will be eligible to respond to a request for proposals that will be issued on Friday, and they'll have until May 18 to respond.
