High Speed Rail Authority Seeks Private Sector Ideas

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The California High-Speed Rail Authority says it's ready to hear from the private sector.

The authority issued on Wednesday a request for expressions of interest from companies that want to help finance, design, construct, operate or maintain the planned bullet train system.

Authority CEO Roelof van Ark says he wants companies to tell the agency "what roles they hope to play in making high-speed rail travel a reality in California."

Companies have until March 16 to respond.

The authority has received $5.5 billion in federal funding toward the project, and more money could be on the way.

The Obama administration announced on Monday a six-year, $53 billion spending plan for high-speed rail as part of a strategy create jobs through infrastructure spending.

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