Just finished a long conversation with Mayor Tom Leppert on the issue of giving incentives to cabs at Love Field to convert to CNG. He had read my blog post on it from yesterday, and, obviously, has a difference of opinion.

I'll let him have his say here:

Leppert's bottom line is that North Texas is a non-attainment area, mostly owing to poor traffic mobility. Improving the picture is going to take a broad effort, and CNG cabs should be a part of that.

But why adopt a policy that places hardship on a small number of people?

In working to improve the air, he said, there's "going to be an impact on everyone."

The cab policy works off incentives and doesn't cost the city, the taxpayers or the airport any money, Leppert said.

I asked what the problem would be to grandfather in those cabbies who have paid cash for their used, but late-model, vehicles. The idea takes into consideration that cabs working the city can't be more than 5 years old, so there's a natural turnover. Cabbies have to dump their older-model cars and upgrade, so they could make the CNG choice at that time.

The mayor said the main reason is the operational problem, such as the permitting and running a lineup system at the airport while also encouraging CNG conversion.

Bottom line: grandfathering is off the table for the mayor.

Also, he said, CNG should be promoted because it's produced regionally and locally and is good energy policy.

I asked him to address those who say his zeal stems from his friend T. Boone Pickens' interest in natural gas production.

"I think it's the right policy. I think it's the right thing to do," he said. "Clearly people have an interest in it. Sure, I know Boone."

Beyond CNG, Leppert said, the whole metro area needs to work cooperatively in upgrading the cab flee, and that probably means fewer than the 2,000 or so (my number) cabs on the streets today. He said the issue came up before the DFW Airport board months ago and needs to be pursued. The North Central Texas Council of Governments will have a key role, he said.

Leppert said the quality of cabs doesn't "showcase our region as much as they could or should."

The idea is that the two cities that own DFW Airport -- Dallas and Fort Worth-- are in the driver's seat and can guide new standards by controlling access to the airport. Not all cities have the standards now in effect in Dallas, and they need to be brought in line.

Buck