Find out more from the Center for Biological Diversity: January 22, 2016�� Lawsuit Challenges Southern California Freeway Threatening Low-income Neighborhoods, Wildlife, Air Quality |
Second lawsuit filed against Mid-County Parkway
By Jeff Horseman
A second lawsuit has been filed to block construction of a $1.7 billion freeway between Perris and San Jacinto.
The lawsuit filed Friday, Jan. 22 in federal court is against the Federal Highway Administration. The plaintiffs are the Center for Biological Diversity; the Sierra Club; the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley.
The earlier lawsuit, filed in Riverside Superior Court in May 2015, lists the county Transportation Commission as the defendant.
Both lawsuits seek to prevent the Mid-County Parkway from being built. The 16-mile, six-lane route from Interstate 215 in Perris to Highway 79 in San Jacinto is meant to relieve traffic congestion by providing another east/west route through the heart of Western Riverside County.
Environmentalists contend the parkway will lead to more sprawl and traffic, threaten wildlife preserves and cause more air pollution. In 2015, transportation officials said the first lawsuit was without merit.
Copyright�2016 The Press-Enterprise.
This article originally appeared here.
