SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) – The State of California has filed a civil case against anyone willing to challenge $8.6 billion in voter-approved bonds for the high-speed rail project.

According to a report in the San Jose Mercury News, the state has issued the legal challenge as a pre-emptive move to prove the legitimacy of issuing bonds to pay for the initial phase of high-speed rail construction this summer.

The open summons, which carries the legal name “High-Speed Rail Authority v. All Persons Interested”, allows parties hoping to block the project to sign up with the court and join others challenging project’s funding. The move is an effort to dispense with all objections now so that future funding challenges can be set aside. The rail authority will be represented by the California Attorney General’s Office.

The call for challengers will be published in major newspapers over a three week period to inform people about their ability to join the legal action.

It’s was not immediately clear when the case would be heard or whether it would have any impact on the projects planned construction timeline, according to the Merc.

The case will not cover challenges to the project based on environmental concerns.

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