Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 6455

Every resettlement franchise, permit, or privilege shall confer upon the grantee the right to occupy the roads, streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, lanes, alleys, courts, places, and pathways of the city or city and county, particularly set out in the terms and conditions of the franchise, permit, or privilege, for the purpose of conducting, operating and maintaining thereon a street, suburban, or interurban railroad, subject always to the right of the city or city and county to acquire and possess the property of the grantee.