At its regular meeting on June 9, the OCTA Board approved a balanced $1.1 billion budget for the coming year. The 2014-15 budget encompasses all services, projects and programs that are administered by OCTA. Major initiatives include sustaining bus and rail service levels, continuing Measure M2 improvements, closing out Measure M1 projects, and operating the 91 Express Lanes. Measure M is the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation.
“OCTA’s balanced budget for the year ahead represents a significant investment in all modes of transportation and fulfills the ongoing commitment made to voters who approved Measure M,” said OCTA Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We expect to deliver tangible results to improve transportation throughout the county whether residents choose to travel by car, bus, rail or bicycle.”
Funding allocation for the budgets include:
• $429 million for bus operations
• $297 million for street and road improvements
• $176 million for freeway projects
• $121 million for Metrolink service, rail and station projects in Orange County
• $11 million for motorists and taxi services
This balanced budget is a result of OCTA’s mission to deliver long-term sustainable transportation solutions for the residents of Orange County.