OCTA Awards More than $50 Million to Improve Traffic

Cities throughout Orange County will receive more than $50 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 to 19 projects that will 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’m very happy to see that OCTA continues spending Measure M dollars effectively and is maintaining our promise to Orange County residents,” said OCTA Chair Lori Donchak. “Investing in our local streets is the foundation to improving all transportation options that make our county a great place to live, work and visit.”

A call for projects was issued by OCTA in August 2015 through the Measure M Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program. The competitive program makes funding available to cities and the county to improve congested streets and to synchronize traffic signals. Project applications were reviewed for eligibility, consistency and adherence to Measure M guidelines.

In addition to the $50 million, OCTA has previously awarded more than $250 million through the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program for streets and roads improvements and signal synchronization projects.

The cities receiving project funds are Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Orange, Santa Ana and Tustin. The county is also receiving funding for an intersection improvement project.

Street improvement projects include:

• $10.2 million to widen Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim from Harbor Boulevard to West Street
• $5.9 million to improve the SR-57 and Lambert Road interchange in Brea
• $5.2 million to widen Warner Avenue in Santa Ana from Main Street to Oak Street
• $1.4 million to add a right turn lane to the Tustin Avenue and Meats Avenue intersection in Orange

Signal synchronization projects include:

• $2.9 million to synchronize Brookhurst Street in Anaheim from Commonwealth Avenue to Pacific Coast Highway
• $1.8 million to synchronize Irvine Center Drive/Edinger Avenue in Irvine 
• $1.7 million to synchronize Fairview Road in Costa Mesa