Florida's loss could soon be California's gain, as the state plans to compete for unwanted high-speed rail funding, which if received would create many new Los Angeles government jobs and other positions throughout the state.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is planning to apply for all of the $2.43 billion in federal funding that was recently turned down by the State of Florida and offer a 20 percent state match.

California has already received $5.5 billion in federal funding to use on high-speed rail, which will create more than 100,000 jobs. If the state receives the funding that Florida declined, it could create an additional 64,000 jobs.

That funding would be used to complete the framework of a statewide high-speed rail system that would stretch from Merced to Bakersfield. It also would give the state the option of building further north toward the Bay Area or further south to the Tehachapi Mountains.

"California has proven that it can and will lead the nation with a vision of true high-speed rail," Curt Pringle, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors, said in a statement. "Every mile of track laid in the Central Valley represents another step toward realizing a statewide system to connect north and south, which will bring private investment, job creation, and economic strength to California."

Members of the Merced and Bakersfield communities, senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and Gov. Jerry Brown have all come out in support of the state's move to apply for the extra funding.

When the entire project is complete, California hopes to have an 800-mile high-speed rail system that will travel at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. The system will connect all of the major urban areas throughout the state, including the Bay Area, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

The first part of that project, which will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim, will cost about $43 billion. Construction on that project is expected to begin in 2012.