OCTA board allocates $47 million for road improvements in 15 cities
ORANGE – Cities throughout Orange County will receive more than $47 million to help ease traffic through Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
The Orange County Transportation Authority board on Monday awarded funding for 23 projects to improve and widen busy streets and intersections. Seven additional projects will receive funding to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during rush hours.
“I am very pleased that OCTA continues to spend Measure M dollars effectively,” said OCTA Chairman Jeff Lalloway, also the mayor pro tem of Irvine. “Improving local streets and roads is at the heart of Measure M. By funding these projects, we will continue to keep our promises to Orange County taxpayers.”
A call for projects was issued by OCTA in August through the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program, making available $35 million for improving congested streets and $15 million to synchronize traffic signals. Project applications were reviewed for eligibility, consistency and adherence to Measure M guidelines.
The cities receiving project funds are Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana and Yorba Linda.
Some of the street improvement projects include:
- The Ball Road and Anaheim Boulevard intersection in Anaheim
- The Hyland Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard intersection in Costa Mesa
- Widening the Tustin Street and Katella Avenue intersection in Orange
- Widening Bristol Street in Santa Ana from Civic Center Drive to Washington Avenue and from Warner Avenue to St. Andrew Place
Some of the signal synchronization projects include:
- La Palma Avenue from Woodland Drive to Chrisden Street in Anaheim
- Malvern Avenue to Chapman Avenue in Fullerton
- Coast Highway in Newport Beach
- Westminster Avenue to 17th Street in Santa Ana
