Small and rural communities across the country are facing serious infrastructure challenges. That is the conclusion reached over the last 3 years by participants in two independent projects set up to address public works in those communities. The first project was the outgrowth of a discussion between leaders of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and officials of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that focused on the idea of holding a series of think tanks throughout the United States on the transportation challenges facing small and rural communities. The second project involved a series of meetings hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which formed a small systems working group under the auspices of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to deal with the challenges to small and rural drinking water systems. The APWA/FHWA project focused on communities of less than 50,000. Communication--and the lack thereof--tended to be the overriding concern common to many of the discussions. The idea that rural communities need to work together under a new philosophy of mutual aid was another significant outcome of the discussions. Public works departments must develop strategies to increase awareness of the importance of public works and the need for infrastructure improvements.

SMALL COMMUNITIES FACE BIG PUBLIC WORKS HEADACHES

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