La Pata Project Moves for Federal Funds

The one firm that applied to prepare studies needed for the county to secure federal money for the La Pata gap project—currently by $42 million—was selected Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

County supervisors hired LSA Associates Inc. to produce the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation two weeks after  of similar reports needed for the project to be eligible for financial assistance from the state.

Public Works staffers must now negotiate an agreement with LSA that will identify costs associated with the federal environmental review. That agreement requires board approval.

If enough money is secured, La Pata Avenue will eventually be widened from three to five lanes from about 2,700 feet south of Ortega Highway to the Prima Deshecha Landfill and extended with four new lanes from the landfill south to Calle Saluda and Avenida La Pata in San Clemente.

More than 6,500 vendors were notified that the county was seeking proposals to prepare the NEPA documents.