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NYC subway closure canceled, Elon Musk’s Boring Company tapped for ideas to improve other systems

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The Governor of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, announced on Thursday evening that the current plan to shut down the 225,000 commuter-strong L-train tunnel in the New York City public transportation system for a 15-month-long repair process will no longer be necessary due to a plan implementing new reconstruction techniques. After consulting with a panel of expert engineers from Columbia and Cornell Universities, a new design was proposed to be used in the tunnel which would streamline the repair process and require closures during nights and weekends with partial train tunnel service still available. When asked in a conference call Friday whether other innovators such as Elon Musk of Tesla and The Boring Company were consulted, the governor said Musk had not advised on this specific issue, but was consulted on improvements to the subway’s signaling system. The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), New York’s transportation network, accepted the Governor’s panel recommendations following the announcement.

The L train tunnel under the East River connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York, known as the Canarsie Tunnel, was damaged during Hurricane Sandy, the Category 3 major hurricane which affected the entire eastern seaboard of the United States in 2012. Its storm surge hit NYC on October 29, flooding huge portions of the island, including 9 of the 14 underwater tunnels in the city’s transport system. Of these, 6 have already been repaired. According to the MTA, the damage to the Canarsie Tunnel is comparable to tunnel damage experienced on 9/11, underlining the extent of the repairs needed and the reason behind the original required shutdown.

Saltwater flooding in from the East River during Sandy significantly damaged the infrastructure of the 7,100-foot-long tunnel, including tracks, signals, switches, cables, and lighting. The flood waters additionally filled protected cable tube pathways called “duct banks” throughout the tunnel, and once dry, the silt hardened to a cement-like consistency inside them, making it impossible to rip out and restore the damaged components. Canarsie Tunnel also opened in 1924, adding age to the brewing number of problems being amplified by the lingering effects of corrosive saltwater remnants from Sandy.

In 2016, residents were informed the tunnel was possibly going to be shut down for 15 months to address the extensive repairs, causing significant commute challenges for the approximately 225,000 riders depending on the service. The date for service closure was scheduled to begin April 27, 2019, but the impending deadline motivated Governor Cuomo to seek out alternative solutions. “I can’t tell you the number of people in Brooklyn who have looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Are you sure that there is nothing else that can be done and there’s no way you can possibly shorten this?’,” Cuomo stated in a recent press conference announcing the new subway repair plan.

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The repair announcement was the end result of a review process Governor Cuomo began on December 14, 2018, wherein he and a consulting team walked through the damaged tunnel to assess the repairs needed first hand. While the plan will take longer than the original project’s timeline – 20 months instead of 15 – the ability to remain open during the repairs is a welcome relief for city residents. The technology that will enable the tunnel to remain open includes wire wrapping along with ultrasound and laser measurement (LIDAR) tools to assess and monitor damage. Engineers from Cornell University’s College of Engineering and Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science with expertise in the type of construction involved were the primary sources for the solutions chosen.

Similar to the innovations that came from Musk’s Boring Company tunneling project, the governor has hopes that the unique system planned for the Canarsie Tunnel will inspire other similar repair projects. “This could be a national model because it is a totally different way to reconstruct a tunnel,” Governor Cuomo touted at the press conference. Also, according to the governor, the techniques in the new plan have been implemented in projects in Europe before for bridge repair, but not in tunnel reconstruction. He hopes to bring more out-of-the-box innovations to the city’s transportation as well. In reference to Elon Musk’s companies, he said, “I don’t believe a time where they’re talking about flying cars and you can get into a car and drive 100 miles on the LIE and never touch the steering wheel, that there’s not a better technology that can regulate the trains!”

For more about the announcement and repair plan, watch Governor Cuomo’s press conference below:

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Accidental computer geek, fascinated by most history and the multiplanetary future on its way. Quite keen on the democratization of space. | It's pronounced day-sha, but I answer to almost any variation thereof.

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Tesla gives its biggest signal yet that Cybercab launch is imminent

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Credit: Joe Tegtmeyer | X

Tesla just gave what is perhaps its biggest signal yet that the launch of the Cybercab, its autonomous ride-hailing-geared car, is imminent.

The Cybercab has been spotted outside of Gigafactory Texas in massive numbers over the past few days, with hundreds of units being stored on property just days after the vehicle received a Certificate of Conformity from the EPA.

Today, things were a bit different.

Cybercabs spotted on Giga Texas property today had an addition: a Cybercab decal on the side, reminiscent of the “Robotaxi” ones that were placed on Model Ys just as the company launched its ride-sharing platform about a year ago.

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Giga Texas drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer noticed the change today:

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Tesla could be signaling that the Cybercab is preparing to enter the Robotaxi fleet in the coming weeks or months with this move. It seems more symbolic than anything; Tesla is ready to throw Cybercabs in the ride-hailing platform just as it did with Model Ys last year.

The addition of the Certificate of Conformity awarded to the Cybercab is another major factor working to Tesla’s advantage. The company now has permission from the EPA to allow the vehicle to operate on public roads and enter the chain of commerce. It’s officially street legal.

Tesla Cybercab specs revealed: range, curb weight, range ratings, and more

The big question that remains is whether Tesla will be able to operate the car without a safety monitor, especially considering it plans to put the car out there without a steering wheel or pedals. With the Cybercab only having a seating capacity of two, it is hard to believe Tesla will even consider putting a Safety Monitor in the car.

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It did recently self-certify as Level 4 and has the ability to operate driverless vehicles in the State of Texas under a law that took effect on May 28. You can read more about that here:

Tesla’s Robotaxi dreams just took a massive step toward reality

We’d imagine Cybercabs will be on the roads as soon as July, but August will likely be a better estimate of when the car will be entered into the Cybercab fleet. It all depends at where Tesla is, as they’ve truly prioritized safety with the rollout of the Robotaxi platform.

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Elon Musk challenges Tesla credit rating from Moody’s after SpaceX gets a higher one

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Justin Pacheco, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has publicly questioned Moody’s credit assessments following the rating agency’s decision to assign SpaceX a Baa1 investment-grade rating, two notches above Tesla’s Baa3. The comments came amid discussions comparing the two companies’ financial profiles.

SpaceX earned its first-time Baa1 rating with a stable outlook from Moody’s. The agency highlighted the company’s leadership in orbital launches, the growing recurring revenue from its Starlink satellite network, strong vertical integration, U.S. government contracts, and emerging opportunities in AI infrastructure.

These factors were cited as supporting robust cash flows, margin expansion, and financial flexibility.

Musk responded directly: “Tesla’s credit rating is ridiculously low tbh,” and added, “Yeah, makes no sense. Tesla has over $40B in cash, no debt, and is consistently profitable!” His remarks underscored Tesla’s balance sheet strength and profitability at a time when many traditional automakers continue to report losses in the shift to electric vehicles.

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Tesla maintains a leading position in the global EV market, with diversification into energy and storage, battery technology, and robotics through projects like Optimus. Recent financial updates show the company generated positive free cash flow of $1.4 billion in Q1 2026, supported by operating cash flow of $3.9 billion. Cash and short-term investments stood at approximately $44.7 billion.

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Moody’s has affirmed Tesla’s Baa3 issuer rating with a stable outlook in periodic reviews, acknowledging the company’s EV leadership, technology strengths, including AI for autonomous vehicles, solid profitability, and strong liquidity.

Tesla (TSLA) scores Baa3 Moody’s rating for ‘stable’ outlook

However, the agency has also noted challenges in the automotive segment and expectations for margin pressures.

Musk’s critique highlights a common debate about how traditional rating methodologies apply to high-growth, capital-intensive technology companies. SpaceX benefits from long-term government-backed contracts and diversified, recurring revenue streams, while Tesla’s valuation reflects heavy investment in future technologies such as autonomy and robotics.

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Both ratings remain investment-grade, yet the one-notch difference has fueled online discussion about potential inconsistencies in evaluating innovative firms.

The exchange comes as SpaceX explores financing options following its recent valuation milestones, while Tesla continues executing on its multi-year roadmap. Musk’s pointed response serves as a reminder that credit ratings, though influential for borrowing costs, represent one lens through which markets assess corporate strength—and that company leaders often view their financial positions through the lens of long-term innovation and cash generation rather than short-term risk metrics alone.

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Tesla faces Full Self-Driving pushback in EU over ‘speeding’

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Credit: Tesla

A new report from Reuters claims that a transport authority in Sweden is pushing back against the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite because it will travel over speed limits.

The report says the Swedish Transport Administration (TRV) recommends the European Union votes against FSD’s approval. TRV believes it should not be approved until Tesla disables FSD’s ability to speed.

TRV sent a letter to the European Union’s Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV), which is set to meet on June 30 to discuss the potential approval of the Tesla FSD suite in the country. Tesla, which has received various approvals in Europe over the past two months, has not provided a comment.

Tesla Full Self-Driving gets first-ever European approval

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Teslas operating on FSD do travel over the speed limit, depending on the Speed Profile that is chosen. Drivers have the ability to disengage FSD at any point; Tesla specifically states that those supervising the suite are responsible for its actions.

Let’s cut to the chase: humans operating any vehicle speed almost daily in the United States. Realistically, speed limits in the U.S. are more frequently treated as speed minimums. However, other countries are different, and driving behaviors are less aggressive.

TRV believes that “allowing automated systems to systematically exceed legal speed limits…risks undermining both the legal framework and the expected safety benefits of ​vehicle automation,” the report stated. It’s surprising that Tesla has not received this claim from other countries previously.

This could be a good argument to bring Max Speed back, the setting that previously allowed the driver to choose the absolute fastest the car would travel.

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This would still put the responsibility of supervision in the hands of the driver. It would allow the driver to choose whether the car would travel over the speed limit or not, acknowledging that they set the speed, and if they get pulled over, there would be no ability to argue it.

However, it does not seem as if this is something Tesla will do, especially considering many U.S. drivers have requested the feature in an effort to eliminate speeding or at least tone it down. The company has not shown any interest in bringing it back.

Tesla has approvals for FSD in Europe in Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

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