At a recent workshop, the OCTA Board of Directors discussed the proposed $1.5 billion balanced budget for fiscal year 2019-20.
OC Go (also known as Measure M), Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, will continue to fund improvements to freeways and streets throughout the county, along with multiple transit programs. Included in the proposed budget is $366.4 million to help fund freeway improvements on I-405, I-5, SR-55, SR-57 and SR-91, $159 million to improve Orange County’s roads and $48.5 million for OC Streetcar construction.
Efforts to improve transit service will continue through OC Bus 360°, the agency’s comprehensive effort aimed at reshaping transit service throughout the county. Bus service levels are proposed to increase by 1.4 percent to account for the first full year of Bravo! Route 529 and no fare increase is proposed. Also included in the FY 2019-20 budget is $219.8 million for the purchase of replacement buses for approximately half of the fixed-route and paratransit fleets.
The proposed budget will return to the board on June 10 for a public hearing and for consideration by the board.