OCTA is awarding $35 million through a Measure M competitive grants program to several local agencies to help ease traffic. Measure M is the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
At its most recent meeting, the OCTA Board of Directors awarded funding for 13 projects to improve and widen busy streets and intersections. Five additional projects will receive funding to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during rush hours. The original goal of the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program was to synchronize 2,000 intersections. As of December 2016, 2,068 intersections have been synchronized.
“Improving local streets and roads is a cornerstone of the Measure M half-cent sales tax funding program,” said OCTA Chairman Michael Hennessey. “These projects, reaching into every part of the county, will bring significant benefit to our residents, businesses and visitors.”
OCTA issued a call for projects in August 2016 through the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program (CTFP), a collection of competitive grant programs that make funding available for improving congested streets and synchronizing traffic signals. Project applications were reviewed for eligibility, consistency and adherence to Measure M guidelines. For more information about the CTFP, click here.
Along with the county, the cities receiving project funds are Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Orange, San Clemente and Santa Ana.