Lautenberg praised high speed rail as "a smart investment"and said his legislation would represent a large step towards giving passengerrail the same kind of public support offered for decades to highways andair travel, and could ease both road and runway congestion. The bill isexpected to be submitted to the Environment and Public Works Committeebefore Congress recesses next week. Senate co-sponsors are NY’s Moynihan,Jim Jeffords of Vermont, and Joseph Biden of Delaware. Pro-rail activistsare presently rounding up midwestern co-sponsors.

This week, the EPA convened a hearing on a new rule thatwill finally crack down on pollution from heavy vehicles. The rule wouldreduce the amount of sulfur allowed in diesel fuel and close a loopholethat exempts SUV’s from a wide ranging of air emission regulations. Becausesulfur creates large particles when burned, any reduction will mean cleanerair. More importantly, the sulfur contaminates the catalysts used to cleanemissions before they are released into the air. Over time this can severelylimit the cleaning capacity of installed converters. Scientists estimatethat 90% of the nation's trucks and buses belch out excess pollutants dueto this effect. So for New Yorkers living along Canal Street or the Cross-BronxExpressway, this rule should offer some respite when its requirements comeinto effect over the next five to ten years.

Clean air advocates still want the rule tightened. Theysay emission standards should be stricter and go into effect sooner, andwant trucks to be subject to emissions tests throughout their lifetimes.Another failing of the rule is that it does not extend pollution standardsto off-road vehicles like construction equipment that, per vehicle, pollute15 times more than comparable on-road counterparts.