California Code, Government Code - GOV § 14038.2

(a) The department may acquire by purchase, lease, or eminent domain, any property necessary for the development and implementation of the state's rail passenger program.  The power of eminent domain shall be exercised in accordance with Title 7 (commencing with Section 1230.010) of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this section, to give significance and importance to the state rail passenger program equal to that of the state highway program, and to that end, to provide the department with the appropriate powers.

(c) To the extent that the activities authorized by subdivision (a) exceed the capacity of the department's existing work force, the department may contract with qualified individuals or firms for engineering, surveying, and related technical services in exercising its authority pursuant to subdivision (a).