Support the Lawsuit
Rethink35 and partners are suing TxDOT over the proposed I-35 expansion.
Thanks to the support of Matt Butler and Rebekah Gensler, your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15K.
The Lawsuit
TxDOT violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by ignoring its mandate to thoroughly study alternatives, solicit public comment on major aspects of the project, and take a hard look at all of the environmental impacts.
01/
Alternatives
Failure to do a proper study of community alternatives such as those put forward by Reconnect Austin and Rethink35.
02/
Air Quality
Failure to address nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), or sulfur dioxide (SO2). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Austin is currently above the threshold considered safe for human health for some of these pollutants.
03/
Water Quality
Changes to the water outfall without a public comment period, unaddressed highway contaminants and lack of treatment.
That’s why Rethink35 and our fellow plaintiffs have to bring a lawsuit against TxDOT.
Read the official complaint here.
In the Media
Strength in Community
Your donations help pay for our lead attorney Rachel Doughty, a NEPA specialist from Greenfire Law in Berkeley, CA. She is joined by Bobby Levinski, our local counsel, who specializes in environmental law, and whose fees are generously covered by Save Our Springs.
fellow plaintiffs in OUR NEPA Lawsuit
Beyond the Lawsuit: Title VI Complaint
Expanding I-35 would double down on a legacy of racial and economic discrimination and marginalization. That’s why Rethink35 along with over thirty organizations and neighborhoods filed a civil rights complaint to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other federal officials on February 28, 2024.
Under Title VI, agencies with a history of prior discrimination have a responsibility to take affirmative action to redress these injustices. Instead, this project makes them worse.
You can read the full Title VI complaint here.
Some of the signatories to our Title VI complaint
We can beat txdot
The planned expansion of I-35 isn't just about adding lanes—it’s about mandating car ownership, increasing pollution, and looking to the past for outdated solutions.
Rethink35 is challenging this expansion in court.
But in this David versus Goliath fight, we need your help to fund this legal challenge. Thanks to the generosity of Matt Butler & Rebekah Gensler, donations will be matched up to $15,000!
Your donations will go directly and exclusively towards legal fees. Whether you can give once or monthly, every dollar makes a difference. Click below to donate.
Rethink35 is a 501c4 organization. If you’d prefer to donate to the lawsuit through a 501c3, you can donate through Save Our Springs Alliance, who are partnering with us on this lawsuit, by writing “I-35 Project" in the comment section of their donation page. Funds donated to SOS in this way will be earmarked exclusively for this project.
Please email rethink35atx@gmail.com with any questions or concerns about how to make your donation.
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