California Code, Government Code - GOV § 14038.5

(a) The department may, at the request of a transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or metropolitan transit development board, and subject to approval of the commission, acquire abandoned or proposed to be abandoned rail freight lines which have the potential of being rebuilt into joint freight and passenger rail transit lines.

(b) The department may, if requested by a transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or metropolitan transit development board, develop plans and specifications for the conversion of abandoned or proposed to be abandoned rail lines into freight and passenger rail transit routes.  The department may contract with the private sector to develop these plans and specifications.

(c) The department may, if requested by a regional planning agency, county transportation commission, or metropolitan transit development board, investigate and prepare procedures, subject to Public Utilities Commission approval, to reinstate rail passenger services in the requesting entity's jurisdiction.