Dear Friend of Transportation:

As the incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority, I am committed to continuing the successful delivery of the Measure M Program. Mobility matters for Orange County and Measure M enhances mobility now and in the future. I am pleased to present the Measure M Annual Progress report for fiscal year 2011-2012.

You will see the forward momentum of Measure M improvements on Orange County’s freeways, streets and roads, and transit system for residents, commuters, and visitors. You also will find financial information regarding Measure M revenue and expenditures. With your support, we will continue to mobilize Orange County toward the future, delivering transportation solutions promised to the voters in Measure M.

Sincerely,

Darrell Johnson
Chief Executive Officer

Measure M Paves the Way

In 1990, voters approved Measure M (M1), Orange County’s first half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. Developed as a 20-year plan, M1 allocated 43 percent of the sales tax revenue to freeways, 32 percent to streets and roads, and 25 percent to transit improvements. The voters entrusted the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to administer the M1 program. That trust was rewarded as most freeway projects were completed within the first 10 years. When it ended on March 31, 2011, M1 was responsible for more than $4 billion of transportation improvements. This included adding 192 freeway lane miles, improving 170 intersections and 38 freeway interchanges, and implementing Metrolink service in Orange County, which now carries the equivalent of one lane of traffic on Interstate 5.

M2 KEEPS IMPROVEMENTS COMING

With M1’s track record of promises kept fully realized, Orange County voters renewed Measure M in 2006. OCTA was once again entrusted to be the steward of the new Measure M2 (M2) during its 30-year lifespan. M2 keeps the same fund allocation percentages as M1 and provides enhanced safeguards to ensure accountability.

M2 is designed to reduce traffic congestion and enhance overall mobility. Improvements include upgrading most freeways, fixing major freeway interchanges and maintaining streets and roads. Traffic lights will be synchronized countywide and the Metrolink rail system will be expanded. M2 also includes programs to protect our environment from street runoff that pollutes Orange County waterways and beaches, and to provide comprehensive environmental mitigation for the impacts from freeway improvements.

OCTA began work on M2 freeway improvements before the first dollar of M2 sales tax revenue was collected in April 2011. The OCTA Board of Directors (Board) approved the M2 Early Action Plan (EAP) outlining a plan to expedite many needed improvements prior to M2 sales tax collection. Beginning in 2007, environmental and design work on major projects quickly started resulting in the delivery of $1.65 billion worth of improvements that were underway by 2012.

In late 2012, the OCTA Board approved the M2020 Plan. The plan continues the focus on expediting delivery. It calls for the majority of the M2 freeway program to be nearly complete by the year 2020. The M2020 Plan objectives also include improving street and road conditions, synchronizing 2,000 traffic signals throughout the county, expanding Metrolink rail service, funding fixed-guideway connections to Metrolink, and continuing the Freeway Environmental Mitigation Program and the Environmental Cleanup Program.

Safeguarding public funds

Measure M2 includes a number of safeguards to ensure the M2 Transportation Investment Plan is delivered as promised. M2 specified that a citizens committee, the Taxpayers Oversight Committee (TOC), ensure that all revenues collected are spent on transportation projects. In addition, each year M2 requires an independent audit and a report on progress and spending for submission to taxpayers.