Local business leaders asked to invest in "Clandestine" opportunity?

Why all the secretive "hush, hush" on this new Pacific Northwest Railroad organization? Seems to me that the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District (HBHR&RD) and the North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) should probably be part of the conversation. I was called by a concerned potential local investor who wanted to know our involvement and I said I have only heard rumors, but here is now some evidence. Supposedly local people have been asked to invest 10 Million dollars to help leverage an ask of 4 Billion private dollars from Wall Street. Anyone out there have further clarification? Supposedly this new organization said there are rail laws on the books from the 1800's that allow them to fast track the process.