The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) announced April 13 funding for street improvements, including widening busy streets and intersections and improving the timing of traffic lights, according to a news release.
Three Orange County cities were awarded $33 million for improving and widening city streets and intersections, with an estimated $30.6 million for Santa Ana, and Irvine and Yorba Linda each receiving $1.4 million. Another $4 million was awarded for traffic signal synchronization with Mission Viejo receiving $2.7 million and Irvine $955,000.
“Because OCTA is able to get this money to cities across Orange County on a competitive basis each year, it ensures that we keep our commitment to voters to continue improving our transportation network for safe and efficient travel,” said OCTA Chairman and Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Hernandez.
The funds are available through Measure M, a half-cent sales tax, approved by voters in 1990.
Since the measure was renewed by voters in 2006, more than $519 million in funding has been awarded to improve Orange County streets, according to authority officials.
The most recent projects received approval after OCTA launched in 2022, a program “making funding available on a competitive basis for projects that will improve congested streets and synchronize traffic signals,” according to the press release.
“This program shows how our ongoing strong partnerships with cities across the county continue to fulfill the promises made to voters through Measure M and improve transportation for everyone who lives, works, or visits Orange County,” OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson, said in the release.
