The Region - News from Dec. 24, 1986

A federal judge in Washington refused for the second time to halt the flow of federal funds for the Los Angeles Metro Rail while two consumer groups battling the project take their case to appeals court. U.S. District Court Judge Joyce Hens Green denied a request of the Taxpayers Watchdog Inc. and Rapid Transit Advocates Inc. to freeze $225.6 million for the project until additional environmental studies are done. The two organizations sued the Southern California Rapid Transit District and Urban Mass Transit Administration in September to freeze the funding. Work has begun on the first 4.4-mile segment stretching from Union Station in Los Angeles to MacArthur Park.