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On Friday, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge denied a preliminary injunction request from Central Valley farmers seeking to halt work on California's high-speed rail project, according to the Associated Press.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has "acted reasonably and in good faith" to comply with California environmental law, Judge Timothy Frawley said, according to the AP.

Groups representing Central Valley farmers had hoped to prevent CHSRA from conducting planning and environmental work, saying the authority did not thoroughly weigh the project's potential environmental impacts. However, the judge did not rule on the merits of the farmers' case, which is expected to be heard in spring.

The initial segment of California's high-speed rail project will run 65 miles from Merced to Fresno, in the heart of California's agricultural region. The judge's decision will enable CHSRA to begin buying land along the proposed route and continue with site surveys, engineering design work and geological testing, according to the AP.