Opinion ID: 305627
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alleged Violation of 23 U.S.C. Sec. 134.

Text: 40 Although plaintiffs raised the issue in their complaint and during the hearing of whether defendant had complied with the three C requirement of 23 U.S.C. Sec. 134, plaintiffs failed to discuss the issue in the brief in support of their motion. The so-called three C requirement of 23 U.S.C. Sec. 134 is stated as follows: 41 After July 1, 1965, the Secretary shall not approve under section 105 of this title any program for projects in any urban area of more than fifty thousand population unless he finds that such projects are based on a continuing comprehensive transportation planning process carried on cooperatively by the States and local communities in conformance with the objectives stated in this section. [Emphasis added] 42 Although defendant made no specific three C finding with respect to the Expressway, the court finds that defendant complied with Instructional Memorandum 50-2-65, dated April 28, 1965, issued by the Department of Commerce and that three C approval for the Expressway was given in an administrative memorandum from the regional office in Chicago. The court further finds that the Memorandum was followed and that plaintiffs have made no substantial showing of probable success on the merits regarding defendant's alleged violation of 23 U.S.C. Sec. 134. 43 Although the court does not need to consider the issue of irreparable harm in light of the above findings, it takes note of uncontradicted testimony presented during the hearing that approximately 13% of the Expressway has been completed and that Foster Park was as torn up as the result of construction on the date of the hearing as it will ever be during the completion of the Expressway. 44 Accordingly having found that plaintiffs have failed to sustain their burden of showing substantial probability of success on the merits of the action, the court denies the motion for preliminary injunction. 45 Entered this 18th day of August, 1971. 46 /s/ Jesse Eschbach