Federal officials are awarding more than $6 billion dollars in funding for high speed rail projects in the state. $3.1 billion will go to the state's California High-Speed Rail Project. While the goal is to have a bullet train running between San Francisco and LA. Officials are now focusing on service that will connect Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield.

Another $3 billion will to to a private company called Brightline which is working on a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. That line is expected to be complete sooner for a fraction of the cost.

For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Maier.