OCTA awards $26.4 million to improve Orange County streets
The Orange County Transportation Authority will award funding to citites throughout Orange County to help ease traffic by making improvements to streets and timing of traffic lights.
Cities throughout Orange County will receive more than $26 million in transportation sales tax funds. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board awarded funding for nine projects that will improve and widen busy streets and intersections, totaling $10.2 million.
Five additional projects will receive funding to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during peak traffic hours. That funding totals $16.2 million. The funds are available through Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as OC Go.
“This is another great example of what OCTA does to improve the transportation network for all of Orange County, ensuring we keep our promises to the voters who approved Measure M,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, also the mayor of Orange.
Since the sales tax measure was renewed by voters in 2006, more than $482 million in competitive funding has been awarded to make Orange County streets better. That amount includes external funding leveraged by OC Go funds. And that’s in addition to another $500 million-plus in formula funding.
The most recent call for projects was issued by OCTA in August 2021 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 the program guidelines.
“By working with our partners in cities across Orange County to improve streets and synchronize traffic signals, OCTA continues to fulfill the mission of keeping Orange County moving safely and efficiently,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson.
Those receiving funds for projects include: Anaheim (two projects), Brea, Garden Grove, Irvine (two projects), Orange, Santa Ana, Yorba Linda.
Cities receiving funds for traffic signal synchronization include: Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Niguel (two projects), and Yorba Linda.
Regional capacity projects include:
- Improving the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim
- Widening Lincoln Avenue between East and Evergreen streets in Anaheim
- Improving the southbound SR-57 onramp at SR-90 in Brea
- Completing the engineering phase of improvements at the intersection of Harbor and Garden Grove boulevards in Garden Grove
- Improving the intersection of Culver Drive and Alton Parkway in Irvine
- Improving the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Michelson Drive in Irvine
- Widening the intersection at Cannon Street and Serrano Avenue in Orange
- Improving Fairview Street between Monte Carlo Drive and Trask Street in Santa Ana
- Widening Savi Ranch Parkway in Yorba Linda.
Signal synchronization projects include:
- Bake Parkway and Rockfield Boulevard in Irvine and Lake Forest
- Euclid Street Corridor in La Habra, Fullerton, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Fountain Valley
- Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Dana Point, and the County of Orange
- Moulton Parkway/Golden Lantern regional project in Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Dana Point
- Yorba Linda Boulevard/Weir Canyon Road corridor in Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Placentia, and Anaheim
The complete list of projects that received funding is available online.
