Center for Biological Diversity v. Federal Highway Administration

The Center for Biological Diversity and other groups reached a settlement with the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the California Department of Transportation that resolved three lawsuits concerning highway projects in Riverside County. In one of the lawsuits, brought in federal court, the court in May 2017 granted summary judgment to the Federal Highway Administration and other defendants, finding, among other things, that the defendants considered a reasonable range of alternatives, including alternatives that the plaintiffs contended could have reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The plaintiffs had appealed that decision to the Ninth Circuit. The settlement agreement provided for a number of mitigation measures, including investment in solar installations at transit station parking lots, requirements to only fund zero or near-zero emission buses, analysis of rail systems to reduce vehicle miles traveled, and funding of financial incentives to increase public transit and vanpools.