The Boring Company — Tunnel Vision Challenge
Buckeye Loop
1 mile. 3 minutes. 112,163 people. Zero rail.
Columbus is the largest city in America without rail transit. Let's change that.
Why Tunnels?
Columbus is the #1 largest city in America with zero rail transit. The last Amtrak service left in 1977. Of the top 20 US metros by population, only Columbus and Tampa have no subway, light rail, or commuter rail.
High Street — the 1-mile corridor between Ohio State University and the Short North Arts District — is one of Columbus's most dangerous pedestrian corridors. Students face 45+ road crossings, unpredictable traffic, and zero grade-separated transit options. The city's Vision Zero initiative has identified this corridor as a priority, yet no solution has ever been built.
#1
Largest US city with zero rail
9th
Largest in the world without rail
1977
Last Amtrak service to Columbus
0
Miles of rail transit
Top 20 US Metros — Rail Transit Status
Introducing Loop
Teslas in tunnels — connecting OSU Campus to the Short North.
Specifications
1.0 mile
5,280 feet
12 feet
Prufrock standard
40-60 ft
Below grade
~3 min
Portal to portal
$2.00
Per ride
15,000+
Riders per day
Glacial till / limestone
N=25-50, Seismic Zone 0
22,000
Riders per game
The route runs 1 mile beneath High Street, from Lane Avenue (OSU campus) to Goodale Street (Short North). At 40–60 feet below grade, the tunnel sits safely beneath utilities and existing infrastructure in ideal glacial till geology.
Capacity
The Buckeye Loop delivers 8,500 passengers per day at launch, scaling to over 15,000 daily. That's 620,500 hours saved annually, $42M+ in economic impact, and 45 dangerous road crossings eliminated — all at a $2.00 fare.
8,500
Daily Riders
620,500
Hours Saved/Year
$42M+
Annual Economic Impact
$235M
5-Year Cumulative Value
45
Road Crossings Eliminated
Interactive Ridership Calculator
Adjust daily ridership to see projected impact
2,975,000
Annual Riders
595,000
Hours Saved/Year
$11.0M
Time Value
$6.0M
Fare Revenue
$40.2M
Economic Impact
$13.505
Per-Rider Value
5-Year Ridership Projection
Annual Economic Impact
Mode Comparison
| Mode | Travel Time | Reliability | Crossings | Gameday | Emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Loop | 3 min | 99%+ | Zero | 22K surge | Zero |
| COTA Bus | 15 min | ~75% | Bus stop risk | Limited | Low |
| Walking | 20 min | Weather dep. | 45+ crossings | Gridlock | Zero |
| Driving | 12-18 min | Variable | N/A | Gridlock | High |
Stakeholder Engagement
88% of surveyed students ranked faster Short North access as their #1 transportation priority (n=8,400). The Buckeye Loop has broad support from the university, the city, transit authorities, and local businesses.
Ohio State University
112,163 daily campus population
“Direct student safety and recruiting advantage”
OSU Students (67,255)
88% survey support
“Safe, fast access to dining, jobs, nightlife”
Short North Business Assoc.
400+ member businesses
“67K+ potential customers via 3-min ride”
City of Columbus
$41.9M LinkUS investment
“Vision Zero alignment, Smart City legacy”
COTA Transit Authority
Tier 1 Priority Corridor
“Complements LinkUS BRT system”
OSU Athletics
102,780 fans per game
“Gameday crowd management revolution”
8,400
Survey Respondents
400+
Businesses Aligned
$41.9M
City Commitment
Feasibility
Success is physically possible. The geology is ideal, the economics are self-sustaining, and the regulatory path is clear.
Technical
- Glacial till (N=25-50) — ideal for TBM
- Columbus Limestone bedrock at 60-80 ft
- Water table: 15-25 ft (above tunnel)
- Seismic Zone 0/1 — negligible risk
- Settlement: <0.25 in surface displacement
- No river crossings, no geological surprises
Economic
- Revenue: $6.2M/year (Year 1)
- Operating costs: $2.8M/year
- Net surplus: $3.4M/year
- Even at 30% lower ridership: still profitable
- LV Loop comparable: $3M/yr for 1.7 mi
- TBC covers construction (Challenge prize)
Regulatory
- No NEPA review required (private funding)
- OSU land (north) — state-owned
- FCCFA land (south) — public authority
- City permit: 60-90 days
- ODOT ROW: 45-60 days
- ADA-compliant station design
Feasibility Scorecard
Geology: Ideal for TBM
Glacial till, N=25-50 blows/ft
Groundwater: Clear
Water table 15-25 ft, tunnel at 40-60 ft
Seismic: Zone 0
Negligible earthquake hazard
Revenue: Self-sustaining
$6.2M revenue vs $2.8M costs
Permits: 3-4 months
City, ODOT, EPA, OSU (concurrent)
NEPA: Not required
Private funding, no federal nexus
ADA: Fully compliant
Elevator access, accessible vehicles
Prufrock: Ready to bore
1 mile, flat, ideal ground conditions
Columbus is ready.
Ohio State is ready.
112,163 people are ready.
Let's build.
tunnelvision@boringcompany.com
February 23, 2026
Contact
davidtphung(at)nlt143(dot)energy