SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday lent unexpected support to a bill that could open a way for San Diego and Riverside counties to compete for some proceeds from the $9.9 billion high-speed rail bond on the November ballot.

Schwarzenegger decided to make an exception to his pledge that he would veto or avoid signing bills before lawmakers reach agreement on a state budget that is now two months overdue, said Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary.

He was expected to sign a measure designed to strengthen the wording of the high-speed rail bond that is on the Nov. 4 ballot, McLear said.

The legislation would add some oversight requirements before the bond money could be spent on the first leg of the 700-mile rail system. When completed, the $45 billion project would link California's largest cities with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph.

But the legislation is not what it seems, said John Chalker, a San Diego member of the California Transportation Commission.

Chalker said the original bill introduced in February would have given San Diego and Riverside counties a shot at rail money, but a series of amendments throws that into question. As passed in its final form, the bill states that the money can be spent anywhere in the state -- as long as it doesn't jeopardize the track between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"That leaves it open to quite a bit of interpretation," Chalker said. "Our chances of seeing any of that $9.9 billion are very slim."

Mike Naggar, mayor of Temecula, agreed and expressed doubt that voters will approve the measure.

"As long as the only thing in there is crumbs for Southern California, I don't see it passing," he said.

The plan is to connect California's major urban regions with speedy trains traveling as fast as 200 mph. Between Los Angeles and San Diego, the tracks are proposed to run through Riverside, Murrieta and Escondido along Interstates 215 and 15.

However, as written, the proposition focuses spending on tracks between Los Angeles and San Francisco -- a piece some have called the backbone of the eventual statewide system. That focus bothered politicians in communities south of Los Angeles and east of San Francisco.

With their support, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston, introduced Assembly Bill 3034 to spread the money around the state.

The bill gained quick passage by the Senate and Assembly. But it still focuses $9 billion of the $9.9 billion funding package on the central corridor between San Franscisco and Los Angeles. Municipalities can compete for the remaining $900 million for local rail projects.

Chalker said the money may give San Diego County a chance to improve intercity rail infrastructure, which he deemed "woefully inadequate."

Contact staff writer Dan Simmons at (760) 740-5426 or dsimmons@nctimes.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.