A special session on rail issues is likely to begin in the first week of December.

Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul will likely call the special session “in the next few days,” according to a memos Atwater and Cretul sent to their members today.

The leaders told lawmakers to clear their schedules for Dec. 3 through Dec. 10 and that work would be completed before Hannukah begins on Dec. 11. The special session would coincide with the committee week already slated for Dec. 7.

Gov. Charlie Crist has pushed for the special session this year to take advantage of federal transportation money for state rail projects.

Lawmakers risk losing out on the funds if they wait until the regular session convenes in March to address the issues.

That special session would give them a third chance at reaching a deal on a proposed Central Florida commuter rail sytem, SunRail, and a financial fix for the flailing Tri-Rail commuter system.