There is an underlying tug of war going on in the world of transportation: human rights versus environmental rights. This paper outlines the differences between human rights and environmental rights through a review of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and various executive orders that are related to environmental protection and human rights. An analysis of a number of legal cases concerning environmental justice (i.e., human rights) is also provided. This analysis offers various planning tools that the reader can use to minimize environmental justice concerns as they relate to transportation projects. Also shown are ways in which transportation planners and engineers can use these planning tools while working with strategies to solve major transportation issues or problems. Finally, environmental justice is examined as it relates to needed research to fill existing gaps with available tools.