Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, touches the lives of Orange County residents every day. While some of the uses of the tax revenue are obvious – freeway and street improvements, for example – others are less well known. Additional projects funded by Measure M include signal synchronization, water quality improvement, open space acquisition and restoration for environmental mitigation, funding for Metrolink commuter rail service in Orange County, and programs and discounted fares that increase mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Each year, OCTA publishes a progress report on Measure M projects. For 2014, OCTA went digital and posted a lively online infographic entitled “Look What a Half Cent Buys.” Displaying Measure M benefits in this quick-read format will assist residents in discovering how their money is spent. It features highlights of the past year, a summary of the 2014 financial statements, and a Measure M projects map. Those who want more detail can click on each section and view additional information about every program. Visit octa.net/MeasureM to view the infographic. An Orange County Register ad directing readers to the online infographic ran in the Sunday paper on March 29 and will appear again on April 12.
An independent oversight committee monitors OCTA’s use of Measure M funding. In February 2015, the Measure M Taxpayer Oversight Committee determined that OCTA had proceeded in accordance with the Measure M ordinance for 24 years in a row.
