Harrisburg Coalition Against Ruining the Environment v. Volpe

Plaintiff

Harrisburg Coalition Against Ruining the Environment, et al.

Defendant

John A. Volpe, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, et al.

Plaintiff's Claim

That the construction of two highways through a city park would deny equal housing and recreational opportunities to African American residents in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, and that the Department of Transportation's decision to locate the highways in this area did not comply with the requirements of federal statutes.

Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff

Robert J. Sugarman

Chief Defense Lawyer

Thomas McKevitt

Judge

William J. Nealon

Place

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Date of Decision

12 May 1971

Decision

That the plaintiffs failed to show that the construction of the highways would deny equal housing and recreational opportunities to African American residents, but that the secretary of transportation had to reconsider its determination regarding the location of the highways under the appropriate federal statutes.

Related Cases

• Evans v. Abney, 396 U.S. 435 (1970).
• Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402 (1971).
• Palmer v. Thompson, 403 U.S. 217 (1971).
• Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Corp., 429 U.S. 252 (1977).