OCTA board allocates more than $40 million for road improvements in 10 cities
ORANGE – Cities throughout Orange County will receive more than $40 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 11 projects to improve and widen busy streets and intersections. Six additional projects will receive funding to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during rush hours.
“OCTA continues to invest Measure M funds in critical road projects throughout the county,” said OCTA Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, also the Fifth District County Supervisor. “Partnering with cities and the county, we are putting our local tax dollars to work to improve Orange County’s transportation network.”
Since Measure M, also known as OC Go, was renewed by voters in 2006, more than $345 million in competitive funding has been awarded to make Orange County streets and roads better. That’s in addition to another $325 million in formula funding.
In addition to the local funds, OCTA secured an additional $6.8 million from the state through the SB1 gas tax, to provide additional funding for several of the signal synchronization projects.
The most recent call for projects was issued by OCTA in August 2017 through the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program, making funding available on a competitive basis for projects that will improve congested streets and synchronize traffic signals.
Project applications were reviewed for eligibility, consistency and adherence to Measure M guidelines.
The cities receiving project funds include: Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Santa Ana and Yorba Linda.
Regional capacity projects include:
- Improving Warner Avenue from Standard to Grand avenues and from Main to Oak streets in Santa Ana
- Widening University Drive from Ridgeline Drive to Interstate 405 in Irvine
- Widening Yorba Linda Boulevard from La Palma Avenue to Santa Ana Canyon Road in Yorba Linda.
- Improving the interchange at Lambert Road and the SR-57 freeway.
Signal synchronization projects include:
- Orangethorpe Avenue Corridor in Fullerton
- Katella Avenue/Villa Park/Santiago Canyon corridor in Anaheim
- Garden Grove Boulevard in Garden Grove.
The complete list of projects that received funding.
