As originally planned, the line would have connected 63 miles from Borden in the north to Corcoran in the south--falling short off linking two of the Central Valley's two major cities in Bakersfield and Fresno. As a result, the project had been derided as "train to nowhere."

But when newly elected Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin rejected $1.2 billion in federal stimulus funds for high speed rail, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked that the money be redirected to California. Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood agreed, announcing California could have about half of those rejected funds.

The authority will now use those funds to make the first stretch 123 miles by taking it down toward Bakersfield.

Though the line probably won't cross into Bakersfield's city limits, the extra funding now gives the high speed rail line slightly more credibility. Final plans haven't been cemented, but the line may tie in with Bakersfield's existing Amtrak station.

An environmental review is expected by the end of 2011, with construction set to begin in 2012.

All told, California has secured $5.5 billion to construct the project, which is expected to cost more than $45 billion.

"Thanks to the federal government’s demonstrated faith in our system and the foresight of California voters, the first stretch of track of this revolutionary system will now reach two major population centers," Schwarzenegger said in a statement on Monday. "We are well on our way to breaking ground on this historic venture, and when we do, not only will productivity be enhanced, congestion and pollution reduced and thousands of jobs created, California’s high-speed rail will be the standard by which every other project in the U.S. is measured.”

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.