Half-cent sales tax is driving force behind local transportation improvements
ORANGE – The Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee has determined that Measure M is being delivered as promised to Orange County voters for the 23rd consecutive year.
The committee held its annual Measure M public hearing this week and unanimously found that the Orange County Transportation Authority is proceeding in accordance with the ordinances that were approved by voters first in 1990 and renewed in 2006.
The independent, 11-member oversight committee was formed to monitor OCTA’s use of Measure M funding, approve all changes to the Measure M plan and hold annual public hearings on the expenditure of funds generated by Measure M.
“I’m pleased to see an independent committee examine and verify that OCTA has stayed on track in our efforts to use Measure M dollars most effectively,” said OCTA Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor. “OCTA has a strong record of delivering on the promises of Measure M to the residents of Orange County and we plan to continue that course.”
The original Measure M half-cent sales tax made possible more than $4 billion worth of transportation improvements. Since 1990, hundreds of local projects have been completed that help residents travel throughout the county every day. This includes improvements to every freeway, widened streets, synchronized signals and improved intersections. Measure M also made possible Metrolink commuter-rail service in Orange County.
Measure M funding included:
- $1.75 billion to upgrade to every Orange County freeway
- $1.3 billion for city street and road projects
- $1 billion for Metrolink service and senior and disabled bus fare stabilization
The renewed Measure M is expected to generate more than $15 billion to fund transportation improvements through 2041. Freeways will receive 43 percent of the funding, streets and roads receive 32 percent, and transit receives 25 percent of M dollars.
For more information about Measure M or the Taxpayers Oversight Committee, visit www.octa.net/toc.
