The Colorado Rail Passenger Association (ColoRail) is donating over 300 copies of a timely and important book to Public, College and High School libraries throughout the State. The book, SMARTrans, presents a sensible rail-based approach to the congestion problems of the Interstate Highway 70 (I-70) from the Metro Area to Vail.

Interest in alternatives to ease I-70's problems has been heightened by a petition drive underway for a November ballot initiative. Voters will be asked to spend $50 million of State money for research on a futuristic monorail system which is favored by the official Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority. SMARTrans explains how existing modern rail technology can provide an effective alternative to highway travel at a fraction of the monorail's projected cost. The author, Edward Stewart Wright of Littleton, is a distinguished engineer with years of executive experience in product development.

ColoRail is a voluntary organization which supports expanded passenger rail services throughout the State. Its members believe that convenient, comfortable, reliable, and economical trains can be an excellent solution to many of Colorado's current highway congestion problems. While ColoRail does not specifically endorse the SMARTrans project as the preferred solution for the I-70 mountain corridor, it has provided these books so that citizens and students can better understand available transportation alternatives in this corridor and elsewhere in our increasingly growing and congested State.

Libraries which have not received a copy may obtain a complementary one by contacting JME at (toll-free) 866-531-6643. The general public may obtain copies from JME for $16.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Information about ColoRail and other passenger rail developments in Colorado may be found at www.colorail.org. The latest news concerning SMARTrans is at the Publisher's web site www.smartrans.net.