High-speed rail extended to Bakersfield

Just last week, the high speed rail authority announced the line would run 54 miles from Borden on the Fresno-Madera County line, to Corcoran.

But Friday, the authority announced the line will be extended another 60 or so miles to Bakersfield.

California is getting another $600 million for the project from the federal government because the incoming governors of Ohio and Michigan don't want to support high speed rail in their states.

One local official says those states losses are Fresno's gain.

What we saw was quick and decisive. We're going to give it to California where they support high speed rail. Specifically, the San Joaquin Valley," Steve Geil of Fresno Economic Development Corp. said.

The Fresno to Bakersfield route is part of the first phase to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The entire high speed rail system will run 800 miles. Construction is set to begin in Fresno in less than two years.