RAILS held its first meeting on 23 June 1998. At this meeting, it was recognized that despite

•   the efforts of some sympathetic policy types and politicians . . .
•   a significant public desire for better transportation systems in New Mexico . . .
•   the beginnings of a transportation renaissance in at least 38 states . . .

We decided that what's missing here is a campaign of public education and awareness about transportation and transit, using the techniques of political organizing, sales and entertainment.

We became a New Mexico non-profit corporation in February 1999 and received our tax exempt (501-c-3$#41; status in August 2001.