CHAPTER 3. Responsibilities of the Authority [185030. - 185038.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 3.

in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185030. Section 185030.

The authority shall direct the development and implementation of intercity high-speed rail service that is fully integrated with the state’s existing intercity rail and bus network, consisting of interlinked conventional and high-speed rail lines and associated feeder buses. The intercity network in turn shall be fully coordinated and connected with commuter rail lines and urban rail transit lines developed by local agencies, as well as other transit services, through the use of common station facilities whenever possible.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185032. Section 185032.

Upon an appropriation in the Budget Act for that purpose, the authority shall prepare a plan for the construction and operation of a high-speed train network for the state, consistent with and continuing the work of the Intercity High-Speed Rail Commission conducted prior to January 1, 1997. The plan shall include an appropriate network of conventional intercity passenger rail service and shall be coordinated with existing and planned commuter and urban rail systems. (a) The authorization and responsibility for planning, construction, and operation of high-speed passenger train service at speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour in this state is exclusively granted to the authority. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing in this subdivision precludes other local, regional, or state agencies from exercising powers provided by law with regard to planning or operating, or both, passenger rail service.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185033. Section 185033.

(a) The authority shall prepare, publish, adopt, and submit to the Legislature, not later than May 1, 2014, and every two years thereafter, a business plan. At least 60 days prior to the publication of the plan, the authority shall publish a draft business plan for public review and comment. The draft plan shall also be submitted to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and the Assembly Committee on Budget. (b) (1) The business plan shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following elements: (A) A description of the type of service the authority is developing and the proposed chronology for the construction of the statewide high-speed rail system, and the estimated capital costs for each segment or combination of segments. (B) A forecast of the expected patronage, service levels, and operating and maintenance costs for the Phase 1 corridor as identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2704.04 of the Streets and Highways Code and by each segment or combination of segments for which a project level environmental analysis is being prepared for Phase 1. The forecast shall assume a high, medium, and low level of patronage and a realistic operating planning scenario for each level of service. (C) Alternative financial scenarios for different levels of service, based on the patronage forecast in subparagraph (B), and the operating break-even points for each alternative. Each scenario shall assume the terms of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 2704.08 of the Streets and Highways Code. (D) The expected schedule for completing environmental review, and initiating and completing construction for each segment or combination of segments of Phase 1. (E) An estimate and description of the total anticipated federal, state, local, and other funds the authority intends to access to fund the construction and operation of the system, and the level of confidence for obtaining each type of funding. (F) Any written agreements with public or private entities to fund components of the high-speed rail system, including stations and terminals, and any impediments to the completion of the system. (G) Alternative public-private development strategies for the implementation of Phase 1. (H) A discussion of all reasonably foreseeable risks the project may encounter, including, but not limited to, risks associated with the project’s finances, patronage, right-of-way acquisition, environmental clearances, construction, equipment, and technology, and other risks associated with the project’s development. The plan shall describe the authority’s strategies, processes, or other actions it intends to utilize to manage those risks. (2) To the extent feasible, the business plan should draw upon information and material developed according to other requirements, including, but not limited to, the preappropriation review process and the preexpenditure review process in the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century pursuant to Section 2704.08 of the Streets and Highways Code. The authority shall hold at least one public hearing on the business plan and shall adopt the plan at a regularly scheduled meeting. When adopting the plan, the authority shall take into consideration comments from the public hearing and written comments that it receives in that regard, and any hearings that the Legislature may hold prior to adoption of the plan.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185033.5. Section 185033.5.

On or before March 1, 2017, and every two years thereafter, the authority shall provide a project update report, approved by the Secretary of Transportation as consistent with the criteria in this section, to the budget committees and the appropriate policy committees of both houses of the Legislature, on the development and implementation of intercity high-speed train service pursuant to Section 185030. The report, at a minimum, shall include a programwide summary, as well as details by project segment, with all information necessary to clearly describe the status of the project, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) A summary describing the overall progress of the project. (b) The baseline budget for all project phase costs, by segment or contract, beginning with the California High-Speed Rail Program Revised 2012 Business Plan. (c) The current and projected budget, by segment or contract, for all project phase costs. (d) Expenditures to date, by segment or contract, for all project phase costs. (e) A comparison of the current and projected work schedule and the baseline schedule contained in the California High-Speed Rail Program Revised 2012 Business Plan. (f) A summary of milestones achieved during the prior two-year period and milestones expected to be reached in the coming two-year period. (g) Any issues identified during the prior two-year period and actions taken to address those issues. (h) A thorough discussion of risks to the project and steps taken to mitigate those risks.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185033.7. Section 185033.7.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Merced to Bakersfield segment” means a 171-mile electrified dual-track segment that is usable for high-speed rail service in the central valley from Merced to Bakersfield, with a new combined station in downtown Merced, and connections to the Amtrak San Joaquins and the Altamont Corridor Express. (2) “Phase 1 System” means Phase 1 of the high-speed train project described in Section 2704.04 of the Streets and Highways Code. (b) (1) As part of the project update report that is due on or before March 1, 2023, pursuant to Section 185033.5, the authority shall develop schedules related to the delivery of all of the following tasks: (A) Completion of the 119-mile dual track segment from Madera to Poplar Avenue, which means Avenue 19 in the County of Madera to one mile north of the Tulare-Kern county line southward to north of Bakersfield, currently near Poplar Avenue. (B) Completion of right-of-way, planning, and advance engineering for extensions to Merced and Bakersfield. (C) Completion of an agreement or agreements between the state, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, and the authority that details the role of each in planning, constructing, and funding the connection in the City of Merced. (D) Completion of an agreement or agreements between the state, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, and the authority covering the planning, funding, and operation of the proposed high-speed rail services from Merced to Bakersfield and the authority and approval for the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority to contract for the operation of the high-speed rail services. (E) Provision of an updated cost estimate with a stated probability level, or levels, of its ongoing contracts and for the work it is funding and managing that is required to complete the Merced to Bakersfield segment extensions. (F) Completion of a funding plan that includes any additional federal funding awards for the Merced to Bakersfield segment. (G) Additional milestones required for the completion of the Merced to Bakersfield segment and the full Phase 1 System pursuant to subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive. (2) The delivery schedules developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be included and updated in each subsequent business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 and project update report prepared pursuant to Section 185033.5. (c) (1) In order to demonstrate reasonable likelihood of adequate funding to complete the Merced to Bakersfield segment, the authority shall provide all of the following information in the project update report that is due on or before March 1, 2023, pursuant to Section 185033.5: (A) Estimated and actual civil works costs of the Merced to Bakersfield segment. (B) Estimated and actual right-of-way, acquisitions, utilities, and other third-party agreement costs. (C) Estimates of contract costs, including contingencies to cover change orders. (D) Other costs, estimated and actual, including, but not limited to, rolling stock, interim use, and stations. (E) Costs reported in a manner than can be comparable across reports. (F) Updates on the authority’s progress on achieving project milestones, as established in the project update report or the business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033. (G) Funding commitments beyond the Merced to Bakersfield segment, and spending to meet those commitments to date, including funding sources used to meet identified funding commitments. (2) The information specified in paragraph (1) shall be included and updated in each subsequent business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 and project update report prepared pursuant to Section 185033.5.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185033.8. Section 185033.8.

(a) As part of the business plan that is due on or before May 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 185033, the authority shall provide a detailed funding plan for the Merced to Bakersfield segment that includes all of the following information: (1) An updated estimate of the funding gap for completing the segment. (2) A strategy for addressing the funding gap that includes all of the following: (A) An itemized list of anticipated funds by source. (B) A timeline describing when each source of funds must be received in order to meet the authority’s schedule for segment completion. (C) The estimated project delays that would result if any funding source fails to materialize, and a discussion of how work could be resequenced to minimize these delays. (D) An assessment of the likelihood that each proposed source of funding will materialize, including the identification of any major risks for obtaining the funding and a plan for mitigating those risks. (3) Options for initiating service on the segment described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 185033.7 and the estimated schedule and costs associated with the service. (b) For purposes of this section, “Merced to Bakersfield segment” has the same meaning as defined in Section 185033.7.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185034. Section 185034.

The authority may do any of the following: (1) Conduct engineering and other studies related to the selection and acquisition of rights-of-way and the selection of a franchisee, including, but not limited to, environmental impact studies, socioeconomic impact studies, and financial feasibility studies. (2) Evaluate alternative high-speed rail technologies, systems and operators, and select an appropriate high-speed rail system. (3) Establish criteria for the award of a franchise. (4) Accept grants, fees, and allocations from the state, from political subdivisions of the state or from the federal government, foreign governments, and private sources. (5) Select a proposed franchisee, a proposed route, and proposed terminal sites. (6) Enter into contracts with public and private entities for the preparation of the plan. (7) Prepare a detailed financing plan, including any necessary taxes, fees, or bonds to pay for the construction of the high-speed train network. (8) Develop a proposed high-speed rail financial plan, including necessary taxes, bonds, or both, or other indebtedness, and submit the plan to the Legislature and to the Governor. (9) Keep the public informed of its activities.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185034.5. Section 185034.5.

For purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 87300) of Chapter 7 of Title 9 of the Government Code, each individual who is selected by the authority to serve in a peer review capacity to the authority shall be deemed to be a designated employee of the authority, and the authority shall be deemed to be the appointing power. Statements required to be filed pursuant to Section 87302 of the Government Code shall be filed with the authority.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185035. Section 185035.

(a) The authority shall establish an independent peer review group for the purpose of reviewing the planning, engineering, financing, and other elements of the authority’s plans and issuing an analysis of appropriateness and accuracy of the authority’s assumptions and an analysis of the viability of the authority’s financing plan, including the funding plan for each corridor required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2704.08 of the Streets and Highways Code. (b) The peer review group shall include all of the following: (1) Two individuals with education and experience in the planning and construction of large transportation systems, such as high-speed rail, or highway systems with similar characteristics, designated by the Treasurer. (2) Two individuals, one with experience in engineering and construction of high-speed rail or similar large infrastructure projects and one with experience in project planning and finance, designated by the Controller. (3) One representative from a financial services or financial consulting firm who shall not have been a contractor or subcontractor of the authority for the previous three years, designated by the Director of Finance. (4) One representative with experience in environmental planning, designated by the Secretary of Transportation. (5) Two individuals with experience providing or governing intercity or commuter passenger train services in California, designated by the Secretary of Transportation. (c) The peer review group shall evaluate the authority’s funding plans and prepare its independent judgment as to the feasibility and reasonableness of the plans, appropriateness of assumptions, analyses, and estimates, and any other observations or evaluations it deems necessary. (d) The authority shall provide the peer review group any and all information that the peer review group may request to carry out its responsibilities. (e) The peer review group shall report its findings and conclusions to the Legislature no later than 60 days after receiving the plans.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185036. Section 185036.

Upon approval by the Legislature, by the enactment of a statute, or approval by the voters of a financial plan providing the necessary funding for the construction of a high-speed network, the authority may do any of the following: (a) Enter into contracts with private or public entities for the design, construction, and operation of high-speed trains. The contracts may be separated into individual tasks or segments or may include all tasks and segments, including a design-build or design-build-operate contract. (b) Acquire rights-of-way through purchase or eminent domain. (c) Issue debt, secured by pledges of state funds, federal grants, or project revenues. The pledge of state funds shall be limited to those funds expressly authorized by statute or voter-approved initiatives. (d) Enter into cooperative or joint development agreements with local governments or private entities. (e) Set fares and schedules. (f) Relocate highways and utilities.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185036.1. Section 185036.1.

(a) The authority shall make every effort to purchase high-speed train rolling stock and related equipment that are manufactured in California, as defined in subdivision (b), consistent with federal law and any other applicable provision of state law. (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Manufactured in California” means that the rolling stock and related equipment are manufactured in whole or in substantial part within California or that the majority of the component parts of the rolling stock and related equipment were manufactured in whole or in substantial part in California. (2) “Manufactured” means an activity of converting or conditioning property by changing the form, composition, quality, or character of the property for ultimate sale at retail or use in the manufacturing of a product to be ultimately sold at retail. (c) Nothing in this section creates a private right of action in any civil litigation.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185036.2. Section 185036.2.

Notwithstanding the authority’s ability to delegate power to the executive director pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 185024, a contract change order with a value greater than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be approved by the authority.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185036.5. Section 185036.5.

(a) For purposes of this section, “Merced to Bakersfield segment” has the same meaning as defined in Section 185033.7. (b) Before submitting a federal grant application for funding for implementation of the high-speed rail project, the authority shall notify the chairpersons of the relevant committees of both houses of the Legislature of the authority’s intent to apply for federal funding. This notification shall include, but not is limited to, all of the following information: (1) Amount of federal funding for which the authority is applying. (2) Activities for which the funding will be used, including whether the planned activities are located on the Merced to Bakersfield segment. (3) The expected source and level of state matching funding required for a successful grant application. (4) If there is expected matching state funding that would be spent outside the Merced to Bakersfield segment, the notification shall include an explanation of the need for the proposed spending and how it is consistent with the Legislature’s stated goal of prioritizing the construction of the Merced to Bakersfield segment, as described in Section 1 of the act adding this section. (c) (1) Before releasing a request for proposals (RFP) after June 1, 2022, the authority shall notify the chairpersons of the relevant committees of both houses of the Legislature of the authority’s intent to release the RFP if it would involve any of the following: (A) Track and systems. (B) Leasing or procurement of train sets. (C) Any work with an estimated value of over two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) or a duration of 10 years or more. (2) The notification required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, but not is limited to, all of the following information: (A) Expected value and duration of the contract. (B) Activities for which the authority will be contracting. (C) How the proposed contract is consistent with the Legislature’s stated goal of prioritizing the completion of the Merced to Bakersfield segment, as described in Section 1 of the act adding this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185037. Section 185037.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any project along the high-speed rail network, the authority may contract with the department to perform project design and engineering services, including construction inspection services. (b) For purposes of this section, “project design and engineering services, including construction inspection services” means preliminary engineering, planning, prebid services, right-of-way acquisition, preparation of environmental documents, preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates, construction inspection including surveying and materials testing, quality control inspection including highway and utility relocation, and grade separations.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 185038. Section 185038.

Any legal or equitable action brought against the authority shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the County of Sacramento. For purposes of this section, subdivision (1) of Section 401 of the Code of Civil Procedure does not apply.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026