Schenk, a former congresswoman, last week repeated her concern about the practicality of a "blended" system of shared tracks in the Bay Area. "I've tried to keep an open mind. I've listened. I've studied. I've debated," she said. "But I can't support it at the expense of the ultimate goal of high-speed rail."

"I have been a supporter of high-speed rail for many decades," she added. "I wrote the congressional bill on it. So my laser goal has been high-speed rail."

The declaration, however, represents an about-face for Schenk, who served as California's secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing during Gov. Jerry Brown's first stint as governor.

Last year, Schenk joined a unanimous 6-0 vote to approve the authority's revised business plan. A key component of that plan was using money from Proposition 1A, a $9.9 billion high-speed rail bond approved by California voters in 2008, on improving commuter-rail lines in the Bay Area and Los Angeles Basin "bookends" of the dedicated high-speed system through the central part of the state.

At that time, in April 2012, Schenk said that while she originally was opposed to spending high-speed rail money on Caltrain, "I was and I continue to be willing to make the compromises ... that it will take to build high-speed rail."

Also on Monday's agenda, the rail authority board will request that the state issue about $8.6 billion in bonds authorized by Proposition 1A, the high-speed rail bond measure approved by California voters in 2008.

The state's High-Speed Passenger Train Finance Committee -- which includes the state treasurer, controller and finance director, the secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, and the rail authority chairman -- will decide on the bond issuance later on Monday.

The bonds will pay to start construction beginning later this year in Madera and Fresno counties.

The rail authority is expected to reveal soon the results of bidding by five teams vying for that first major construction contract, which could be worth $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

If you go

What: Special meeting of the California High-Speed Rail Authority

When: 11 a.m. Monday

Where: Teleconference site in Fresno at ML Street Properties, 855 M St., Suite 1110 (in the downtown United Security Bank building). Under state open-meeting laws, the teleconference site is open for the public to attend. (The meeting will originate from the Treasurer's Office in Sacramento.)

Details: cahighspeedrail.ca.gov

For more on high-speed rail, go to fresnobee.com/hsr