Crist wants special session on Fla. commuter rail

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Charlie Crist says he wants a special legislative session in December to seek approval of a commuter rail system in central Florida.

The commuter project is seen as vital to Florida's chances of getting federal money for a high-speed system linking Orlando and Tampa and eventually extending to Miami.

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Crist has the power to call a special session, but Thursday said he wants support from legislative leaders before doing so.

The federal government is making $8 billion available for high-speed systems across the nation. A key criteria, though, is that such systems have links to local transportation networks.