Assessing Program Performance

The Measure M2 (M2) Ten-Year Review (Review) provides a comprehensive assessment of Orange County’s voter-approved transportation sales tax measure. Approved by nearly 70 percent of voters in 2006, M2 established a 30-year, half-cent sales tax to fund improvements to freeways, streets and roads, transit, and environmental programs. As required by Ordinance No. 3, the M2 governing ordinance, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) conducts the Review at least every ten years to evaluate program performance and determine whether changing conditions warrant adjustments.

This second Ten-Year Review builds on the initial review completed in 2015 and incorporates the 2025 update of the Next 10 Delivery Plan, triennial performance assessments, and M2 Quarterly Progress Reports, as well as a robust and inclusive public outreach campaign. Conducted at the midpoint of the 30-year program, the Review provides a timely opportunity to evaluate progress to date and assess long-term program outlook.

Overall, the Review finds that the M2 program remains on track to deliver the transportation improvements promised to voters. Significant progress has been made across all investment categories, with major freeway improvements underway or complete, continued investment in local streets and roads, expanded transit services, and environmental programs that improve water quality and preserve open space.

The Review also considers external factors that influence program implementation, including regulatory changes, land use, travel and growth projections, economic conditions, project constraints, and public support. OCTA has responded by leveraging external funding opportunities, refining delivery strategies, and adjusting implementation plans where necessary. Because many program elements are scalable to available revenues, the program remains fiscally sustainable while continuing to deliver transportation improvements. Public outreach conducted as part of the Review indicates continued support for the M2 Program and its balanced approach to transportation investments.

On April 27, 2026, the OCTA Board of Directors approved the M2 Ten-Year Review, including an action plan to address emerging risks, refine delivery approaches, and ensure continued alignment with evolving transportation needs. Together, these efforts provide a forward-looking framework to guide implementation of the M2 program through 2041 while upholding fiscal stewardship and accountability to Orange County voters.