Orange County Branch Newsletter

April 2011

Branch News

ASCE OC Branch Joint Meeting with Transportation Technical Group La Pata Gap Closure - March 15, 2011


Mr. Persaud provided an overview of the upcoming La Pata Gap closure project within the County of Orange. Mr. Persaud has over 30 years of experience in Public Works and Planning which included responsibilitieswith the City of Riverside as a Former PlanningCommissioner, currently serving as PlanningCommissioner for the City of Anaheim and is the Adjunct Faculty member with Rancho SantiagoCommunity College. Mr. Persaud has a Masters Degree with the University of Minnesota, has a Certification as a Traffic Engineer from UC Berkeley, is a Certified Planner as an Associate of the Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is certified as a Project Manager with the Project Management Institute.

Harry Persaud, County of Orange giving an overview of the upcoming La Pata Gap closure project

 

The County of Orange has conducted preliminaryalignment and environmental studies for a proposed project that would extend the existing1.8-mile portion of La Pata Avenue south of Ortega Highway, approximately two miles to connect with existing Avenida La Pata in the City of San Clemente.

The project would close the "gap" between the two existing roadway segments– providing an essential link within the County’s regional roadwaynetwork. The proposed project also includesa quarter-mile extension of Camino Del Rio to intersect La Pata Avenue, consistent with the City’s local circulation element. La Pata Avenuehas been designed as four-lane Primary Arterial Highway. The proposed project will traverse parts of San Clemente, the unincorporated areas of the County and is also adjacent to the City of San Juan Capistrano.

The La Pata Avenue Gap Closure and Camino Del Rio Extension project is designed to ease traffic congestion while ensuring minimal environmental impact on the area's high quality of life.

Several years ago, the County and City of San Clemente considered alternative alignments for the La Pata Gap Closure, including locations near the Talega and Forster Ranch developments. In-depth community input led to the development of a proposed project, which will traverse parts of San Clemente and the unincorporated areas of the County.

Over the last 2 years the Countyand their consultant team preparedenvironmental and engineering studies for the project,which included the proposed project and alternative projectalignments. The public review period for the EIR ended in December, 2010. Response to public review comments is being finalized and the Draft EIR will be presented to the County for consideration this spring.