A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.

Did Caltrans Shortchange South Fresno? Judge Weighs Highway 99 Expansion Lawsuit

/February 23, 2026/inTransportation

In a Fresno County courtroom earlier this month, attorneys representing community groups and residents delivered a blunt assessment of Caltrans’ proposed Highway 99 expansion in south Fresno.

The agency’s environmental review, they argued, is “riddle with defects, not in one place, not in two, but throughout,” and reflects a pattern of cutting corners rather than fulfilling its legal responsibilities.

Caltrans, they argued, “chose convenience over diligence.” 

At the center of the dispute is a $150 million plan to construct new interchanges at North and American Avenues along Highway 99. The project would support access to a proposed 3,000-acre industrial park in south Fresno. Supporters frame it as an economic development investment. However, it would significantly increase heavy truck traffic through communities that already experience some of the worst air quality in the nation.

A brief recap:

In 2023, Fresno BHC and Friends of Calwa filed suit against Caltrans, arguing that the agency failed to adequately analyze the health and environmental impacts of the expansion under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The core claim is that the environmental review did not fully account for the scale of truck traffic the project is likely to generate, nor did it honestly evaluate what that means for nearby neighborhoods.

Image Gallery

Caltrans Hearing

Browse the gallery below to view images.

A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.
A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.
A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.
A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.
A wide group portrait of about twenty people of diverse ages and backgrounds standing in front of a modern "Court House Entrance." They are dressed in a mix of professional and business-casual attire. The courthouse features a unique concrete honeycomb-style facade.
A large group of people gathered in a loose circle on a concrete plaza outside a courthouse. They appear to be listening to a speaker, with the architectural details of the building's textured exterior visible in the background.
A large group of people gathered in a loose circle on a concrete plaza outside a courthouse. They appear to be listening to a speaker, with the architectural details of the building's textured exterior visible in the background.
A wide shot from behind a group of people standing in a circle on an outdoor plaza. In the background, there is a large green lawn, a white mid-century modern building, and tall cypress trees under a clear blue sky.
A wide shot from behind a group of people standing in a circle on an outdoor plaza. In the background, there is a large green lawn, a white mid-century modern building, and tall cypress trees under a clear blue sky.
A wide shot from behind a group of people standing in a circle on an outdoor plaza. One person on the left is holding up a smartphone to take a photo or video of the gathering. The background shows sun-drenched city buildings and a park.
A wide shot from behind a group of people standing in a circle on an outdoor plaza. One person on the left is holding up a smartphone to take a photo or video of the gathering. The background shows sun-drenched city buildings and a park.
A view from the opposite side of the circle, looking toward a different set of buildings and tall pine trees. The group is engaged in a discussion, with shadows stretching across the pavement in the afternoon light.
A view from the opposite side of the circle, looking toward a different set of buildings and tall pine trees. The group is engaged in a discussion, with shadows stretching across the pavement in the afternoon light.
A candid shot of the group discussion. A woman in a grey coat and blue trousers is speaking with her hands raised, while others in the circle listen attentively. The white courthouse building is visible in the background.
A candid shot of the group discussion. A woman in a grey coat and blue trousers is speaking with her hands raised, while others in the circle listen attentively. The white courthouse building is visible in the background.
A medium close-up of four people in the circle. A woman in a grey blazer is smiling and looking toward a woman in a dark coat and beanie. The lighting is bright and direct, highlighting their expressions during the conversation.
A medium close-up of four people in the circle. A woman in a grey blazer is smiling and looking toward a woman in a dark coat and beanie. The lighting is bright and direct, highlighting their expressions during the conversation.
An elevated wide shot of the group gathered on the plaza. A woman in a grey suit is gesturing while speaking to the crowd. The scene is framed by a mix of modern and classical architectural styles and mature trees.
An elevated wide shot of the group gathered on the plaza. A woman in a grey suit is gesturing while speaking to the crowd. The scene is framed by a mix of modern and classical architectural styles and mature trees.
A shot from behind the group, focusing on the speaker and the attentive audience. A man in a blue puffer jacket is in the foreground, and several people in professional suits are scattered throughout the circle.
A shot from behind the group, focusing on the speaker and the attentive audience. A man in a blue puffer jacket is in the foreground, and several people in professional suits are scattered throughout the circle.
A shot from behind the group, focusing on the speaker and the attentive audience. A man in a blue puffer jacket is in the foreground, and several people in professional suits are scattered throughout the circle.
A shot from behind the group, focusing on the speaker and the attentive audience. A man in a blue puffer jacket is in the foreground, and several people in professional suits are scattered throughout the circle.

10 Million Truck Trips

One of the most significant omissions includes more than 10 million potential truck trips associated with the industrial development those interchanges are designed to serve. Those trips were not properly studied in Caltrans’ environmental analysis.

Residents of Calwa, Malaga, and other nearby communities live alongside Highway 99 and already bear a disproportionate burden of pollution from freeway traffic, warehousing, and industrial activity. Asthma rates and other respiratory conditions in south Fresno consistently outpace regional and state averages. Diesel exhaust, particular matter, and ozone exposure are daily realities.

Fresno County map of highway 99, highlighting the construction zones including the North Avenue Interchange and American Avenue Interchange.

Environmental review laws exist precisely to force agencies to examine cumulative impacts, consider alternatives, and mitigate harm before projects move forward. By failing to account for the full scope of truck traffic and its downstream effects, Caltrans short-changed that process.

A History of Industrial Expansion

These process flaws are not technical, but a pattern of undercounting and incomplete analysis that, if accepted, will set a troubling precedent for how major infrastructure projects are evaluated in already overburdened communities. The legal question before the judge is whether Caltrans complied with CEQA requirements or whether the environmental impact report must be set aside and revised.

This case also fits into a broader conversation unfolding in Fresno County about land use, public health, and who bears the cost of growth. As we have reported in previous coverage of industrial rezoning efforts and large-scale logistics proposals, south Fresno has repeatedly been targeted for projects that promise regional economic benefits while concentrating environmental impacts locally. We believe that meaningful review and mitigation are not obstacles to development, but necessary guardrails to ensure fairness and health protections.

What Happens Next

The outcome of this case could have consequences beyond a single set of interchanges. A ruling that requires deeper analysis of truck traffic and health impacts would signal that state agencies must fully account for cumulative environmental burdens when proposing infrastructure in vulnerable communities. A ruling in Caltrans’ favor would affirm the agency’s approach and allow the project to proceed as planned.

For Fresno BHC and Friends of Calwa, the lawsuit has always been about accountability and transparency. The argument is not that infrastructure should never be built. It is that decisions affecting air quality, traffic, and neighborhood health must be supported by complete and honest analysis, especially where residents have long raised concerns about cumulative pollution.

The judge now has 90 days to issue a written ruling. What that decision comes down, it will clarify whether Caltrans met its obligation under state law or whether further environmental review is necessary.

Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates on this story when the ruling is issued.

For more local coverage about this case:

‘How did you miss it?’ Fresno judge grills Caltrans over Highway 99 interchange expansion near juvenile facility

Highway 99 in Fresno would be choked with truck traffic if expanded, lawsuit says

Caltrans expansion plan triggers lawsuit from Fresno communities over pollution concerns

Read More

▶ Fresno truck drivers in limbo after CA DMV revokes licenses

▶ Indian Punjabi truckers sue California DMV for revoking their licenses – Los Angeles Times

▶ Trump alters trucking regulations, targeting immigrant drivers – CalMatters

Read Our Newsletter

Latest News

Issue Areas

Health

Housing

Economic Development

Land Use

Outdoor Access

Transportation

Community Safety

Newsletter Registration

Contact Us

Get In Touch

  • PO Box 7694
    Fresno CA 93747

  • (559) 256-8722

  • marketing@fresnobhc.org

Visit Us

  • 367 N First St
    Fresno CA 93702

This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their ‘Personally Identifiable Information’ (PII) is being used online. PII, as described in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with our website.

© 2026 Fresno Building Healthy Communities, All Rights Reserved.  |  Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

What State Leaders Saw on Our South Fresno Environmental Justice Bus TourEnvironmental Justice Bus Tour with Fresno BHCAerial view of Calwa Park during renovation, showing a foggy construction site with earthwork underway and trees and nearby homes surrounding the area.Calwa Park Renovation Update!