In November, the OCTA Board of Directors approved the Measure M Next 10 Delivery Plan (Next 10 Plan). This comprehensive plan ensures the Measure M2 Investment Plan in its entirety can be delivered as promised to the voters despite changing economic impacts and revenue shortfalls.
You can download a complete copy of the Next 10 Plan at octa.net/Next10. The following is a summary of the key milestones in the Next 10 Plan that will help improve mobility in Orange County over the next 10 years:
- Deliver $4.2 billion in freeway projects
- Allocate approximately $1 billion of funding for streets and roads improvements
- Invest up to $1.4 billion to enhance access to rail and transit including delivery of the OC Streetcar
- Ensure ongoing preservation of open space preserves and provide $40 million in water quality grants
When the M2 Plan was initially developed, sales tax revenue forecasts were projecting approximately $24.3 billion would be available for M2 projects and programs by 2041. Since the Great Recession in 2008, sales tax revenue forecasts have dropped $10.1 billion, and are now projected to provide only $14.2 billion in revenues.
The Next 10 Plan takes into account current cash flow forecasts, project information and schedules, and outlines 10 key deliverables in the next 10 years. During the Next 10 Plan time period, more than $6 billion in transportation improvements promised to the voters in M2 are planned to be completed or under way by 2026.
Measure M is Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, designed to help reduce traffic congestion, increase mobility and improve the quality of life for residents and commuters.
