Rethink35 awarded $25K grant to aid lawsuit against I-35 expansion

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin grassroots organization Rethink35 received a $25,000 grant to support its ongoing lawsuit against the Texas Department of Transportation, group officials announced Wednesday.

Impact Fund supplied the funding to aid Rethink35's lawsuit, centered around TxDOT's Interstate 35 expansion near downtown Austin. Rethink35 filed that suit alongside several other area organizations in January, with the lawsuit centered around alleged environmental justice impacts from the project that will worsen traffic and carbon emissions, negatively affect air and water quality as well as displace dozens of homes and businesses.

The claims argue that TxDOT didn't adequately explore expansion alternatives as part of the department's analysis and violated federal environmental regulations as a result.

Rethink35 leaders said Wednesday the additional funding will assist the organization in hiring "expert witnesses to testify on the project's harmful impacts," adding the suit is expected to head to trial within the next six months.

Along with the grant, Rethink35 has raised nearly $100,000 to support the ongoing suit, adding the majority of those funds came courtesy of community donations.

“Our fight against the expansion of I-35 just got a major boost,” Rethink35 board member Sasha Sivolob said in the release. “This Impact Fund grant will enable us to bring in top-tier experts who can clearly demonstrate the environmental, health, and social damage that TxDOT’s plan would inflict on our communities. Their testimony will play a crucial role in helping us make the strongest possible case in court.”

In an email, a TxDOT spokesperson cited department policy and said TxDOT wouldn't comment on pending litigation.