California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 161027

(a) The department shall cooperate with federal, state, and local public agencies in ensuring the reservation of lands for transportation purposes.

(b) If any state or local public agency is unable, due to limited financial resources or other circumstances of a temporary nature, to acquire land for transportation purposes, the department may acquire and hold that land for subsequent conveyance to the public agency.  The department may provide technical assistance to aid public agencies in completing those acquisitions and related functions.