Tennesseans Strongly Back Music City Loop, New Poll Finds

Source: Beacon Center of Tennessee Poll, October 2025

Tennesseans Back the Music City Loop

A recent Beacon Center poll reveals that Tennesseans overwhelmingly support the Music City Loop — an underground, high-speed electric transit tunnel being developed by The Boring Company to connect downtown Nashville with the airport. According to the poll, 68% of registered Tennessee voters favor the project under its proposed funding model, which relies entirely on private financing and requires no taxpayer dollars.

The survey, conducted October 26–29, 2025, sampled 1,200 registered voters across the state and carries a margin of error of ±2.77%. Respondents were asked whether they support or oppose allowing The Boring Company’s Music City Loop tunnel to proceed under the current state arrangement.

Broad Support Across the Political Spectrum

The poll results show support that extends far beyond partisan or ideological divides. Among Republicans — the state’s largest political bloc — 68% support the Loop, compared with 39% of Democrats and 51% of Independents.

Conservative voters were the most enthusiastic: 72% expressed support, including nearly 40% who said they “strongly support” the project. Even among moderates and liberals, support remained substantial, with 47% and 42%, respectively, favoring the plan.

These figures suggest the Loop appeals to Tennesseans across traditional political boundaries, reflecting a shared interest in improving regional transportation and embracing private-sector innovation.

Regional Support Strongest in East Tennessee

Support for the Loop is strongest in East Tennessee, where 61% of voters support the project — higher than both Middle (54%) and West Tennessee (51%). This finding is notable because the proposed tunnel would be located in Nashville, indicating that enthusiasm for the project extends beyond Davidson County and into other regions of the state.

In East Tennessee, 30% of respondents “strongly support” the initiative, while another 31% “somewhat support” it. West Tennessee showed similar enthusiasm, with nearly one-third of voters in favor and relatively low opposition (only 28% opposed).

Limited Opposition and Uncertainty

Overall, only 29% of Tennesseans oppose the Music City Loop, and just 13% “strongly oppose” it. Another 15% said they were unsure. The low intensity of opposition suggests that most Tennesseans are either supportive or open to learning more about the project as it develops.

Among Democrats, opposition reached 51%, but even in that group, one in five said they “somewhat support” the proposal — an indication that details about cost, access, or environmental impact may influence opinion further as the project advances.

A Vote of Confidence in Private Innovation

The Beacon Center poll highlights a clear message: Tennesseans are receptive to new transportation technologies when they come without a taxpayer burden. The state’s partnership framework with The Boring Company — which calls for privately financed infrastructure and no public funding obligations — appears to resonate with voters across the spectrum.

For Nashville, the findings could bolster momentum for the Music City Loop, signaling to state and local policymakers that the public is ready for forward-looking transit solutions that improve mobility without adding to public debt.

While regulatory and construction milestones remain ahead, the data suggest broad public trust in the state’s approach to innovation and infrastructure. With nearly seven in ten Tennesseans supportive, the Music City Loop has established a foundation of popular legitimacy that few major projects enjoy.

Looking Ahead

As planning and environmental reviews continue, policymakers will likely point to this strong statewide backing as evidence that Tennessee can lead in privately financed transit innovation. The Music City Loop represents not just a potential breakthrough in transportation but also a new model for how public–private partnerships can deliver major projects efficiently and affordably.

The poll’s findings reinforce that Tennesseans are ready to move forward — and that the Music City Loop has the momentum to make it happen.