Lawsuits Threaten Light Rail In Los Angeles

Ambitious plans for new public transit across L.A. are inching closer to reality. A comprehensive rail system in this car-centric metropolis seems truly possible. But not everyone shares the vision. Four lawsuits are threatening to halt work on the expansion of rail and subway lines. Opponents cite safety, traffic, and quality of life concerns, and some of the suits may indeed stymie work. The protests echo an earlier era of "freeway revolts," which saw residents of higher income areas successfully blocking freeway construction through their neighborhoods.