State lawmakers are attempting to accomplish in a special session what they could not agree on in two previous regular sessions. The legislature will meet in Tallahassee on Thursday to discuss expanding commuter rail in Florida.

Lawmakers are expected to talk about a host of train issues, from the proposed SunRail project in Central Florida to funding for the existing Tri-Rail system in South Florida.

Funding could come from the state gas tax or a tax on home sales.

Unions are threatening to kill the rail system expansion, claiming the jobs it would create would be low-paying and offer no benefits.

But Governor Charlie Crist says if lawmakers don't act fast, the state will miss a shot at 2.5 billion federal dollars to expand the system.