Your Tax Dollars at Work

Signal synchronization is a cost-effective way to minimize congestion by improving street and road capacity without costly and disruptive new construction. Projects throughout the county have been funded by a variety of local, state, and federal sources.

Summary

The Measure M2 Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (RTSSP), also known as Project P, provides funding and assistance to implement multi-agency signal synchronization. The target of the program is to regularly coordinate 2,000 signals along 750 miles of roadway as the basis for synchronized operation across Orange County.

To date, OCTA and local agencies have synchronized more than 3,500 intersections along more than 903 miles of streets (101 completed projects). The OCTA Board of Directors, through a competitive process, have approved 13 rounds of M2 funding for Project P. On April 10, 2023, the Board awarded approximately $3.66 million dollars to three projects as part of the 2023 Call for Projects Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (RTSSP). To date, OCTA has funded approximately $162.3 million, including $30.5 million in external funding, to 131 projects.

27 projects are planned or in progress through Project P. As of September 2023, the program has resulted in:

• 101 completed signal synchronization projects
• $137.4 million in funding awarded through the competitive process by the OCTA Board of Directors
• Approximately $92.1 million in improvements along 903 miles and 3,552 signals
• Travel time savings: 13%
• Speed improvements: 14%
• Stop reduction: 29%
• $227.4 million estimated project life gas savings

Signal Synchronization from 2007 to 2011

After completing two signal synchronization demonstration projects on Euclid Street and Oso Parkway/Pacific Park Drive that comprised of 96 signals and 24 miles through eleven jurisdictions, OCTA advanced signal synchronization efforts along ten arterial corridors comprised of 591 signalized intersections on 159 miles of roadway. This $8 million effort was funded by Proposition 1B Grants and the Measure M1 Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP). The ten projects helped eased drivers traveling throughout the county.

In 2011, OCTA implemented signal synchronization along three more corridors (Harbor Boulevard, State College Boulevard-Bristol Street, and Westminster Avenue) as transportation control measures for the purpose of reducing emissions by reducing congestion conditions. The corridors included 252 signalized intersections and 46 miles of roadway through ten jurisdictions. The project budget was $1.8 million and was funded by federal transit and air quality revenues. OCTA also funded an additional corridor with M1 funds totaling $520,000. The Magnolia Street corridor synchronized 54 signals along 16 miles of roadway through seven jurisdictions.

Traffic Synchronization Program Projects

2023

The Measure M2 Project P 2023 Call for Projects awarded nearly $3.7 million for three projects that includes 2 jurisdictions and will synchronize 149 signals along 26 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2023 M2 Project P Projects: Irvine Boulevard/Trabuco Road, Marguerite Parkway, and Olympiad Road-Felipe Road.

2022

The Measure M2 Project P 2022 Call for Projects awarded nearly $16.2 million for five projects that includes 15 jurisdictions and will synchronize 399 signals along 56 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2022 M2 Project P Projects: Bake Parkway and Rockfield Boulevard, Crown Valley Parkway, Euclid Street, Moulton Parkway/Golden Lantern, and Yorba Linda Boulevard/Weir Canyon Road.

2021

The Measure M2 Project P 2021 Call for Projects awarded nearly $8.5 million for 3 projects that includes 9 jurisdictions and will synchronize 200 signals along 34 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2021 M2 Project P Projects: Alton Parkway, First Street/Bolsa Avenue, and Portola Parkway/Santa Margarita Parkway.

In February 2023, the Board approved escalation in the amount of $1,350,457 for all three projects.

2020

The Measure M2 Project P 2020 Call for Projects awarded nearly $12.1 million for 6 projects that includes 17 jurisdictions and will synchronize 229 signals along 56 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2020 M2 Project P Projects: Baker Street-Placentia Avenue/Victoria Street/19th Street Route, Bolsa Chica Street, Barranca Parkway, Lambert Road, Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive, and Seal Beach Boulevard.

In February 2023, the Board approved escalation in the amount of $249,158 for the Bolsa Chica Street project.

2019

The Measure M2 Project P 2019 Call for Projects awarded $7.69 million for 5 projects that includes 11 jurisdictions and will synchronize 129 signals along 33 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2019 M2 Project P Projects: Harbor Boulevard, MacArthur Boulevard, Red Hill Avenue, Lake Forest Drive, and Aliso Creek Road.

2018

The Measure M2 Project P 2018 Call for Projects awarded nearly $8.9 million for 6 projects that includes 22 jurisdictions and will synchronize 310 signals along 78 miles of Orange County streets and roads. In addition, OCTA was awarded a nearly $6.6 million SB-1 Grant in matching funds for four of the awarded projects. These matching funds build on the Measure M2 investment and allow OCTA to deploy additional resources to signal synchronization through future Calls for Projects.

2018 M2 Project P Projects: Orangethorpe Avenue, Katella Avenue*, Main Street*, Los Alisos Boulevard Route*, Culver Drive/Bonita Canyon/Ford, and Garden Grove Boulevard*.

*Partially funded by SB-1 Grant

2017

The Measure M2 Project P 2017 Call for Projects awarded nearly $2.5 million for 5 projects that included 7 jurisdictions to synchronize 87 signals along 22 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2017 M2 Project P Projects: Irvine Boulevard, Gilbert Street/Idaho Street, Camino Vera Cruz, Bear Street, and Olympiad Road-Felipe Road.

2016

The Measure M2 Project P 2016 Call for Projects awarded nearly $12.5 million for 7 projects that included 14 jurisdictions to synchronize 259 signals along 75 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2016 M2 Project P Projects: Brookhurst Street, El Toro Road, Fairview Road, Irvine Center Drive/Edinger Avenue, Magnolia Street, Marguerite Parkway, and Von Karman/Tustin Ranch Road

2015

The Measure M2 Project P 2015 Call for Projects awarded nearly $16 million for 7 projects that included 20 jurisdictions to synchronize 310 signals along 81 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2015 M2 Project P Projects: Chapman Avenue, Westminster Avenue/17th Street, Alicia Parkway, Imperial Highway/SR-90, Malvern Avenue/Chapman Avenue (North), Coast Highway, and La Palma Avenue

2014

The Measure M2 Project P 2014 Call for Projects awarded approximately $8 million for 10 projects that included 16 jurisdictions to synchronize 238 signals along 59 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2014 M2 Project P Projects: Anaheim Boulevard, Orangewood Avenue, Birch Street/Rose Drive, Artesia Boulevard, Bristol Street, Sunflower Avenue, El Toro Road, Moulton Parkway, La Paz Road, and Harbor Boulevard

2013

The Measure M2 Project P 2013 Call for Projects awarded nearly $15 million for 13 projects that included 16 jurisdictions to synchronize 366 signals along 100 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

OCTA was awarded a $1.25 million Mobile Source Air Pollution Review Committee (MSRC) Grant in matching funds for six projects awarded as part of the 2013 Call, including 131 signals along 38 miles of Orange County streets and roads through nine jurisdictions. These matching funds build on the Measure M2 investment and allow OCTA to deploy additional resources to signal synchronization through future Calls for Projects.

2013 M2 Projects: Antonio Parkway*, Newport Boulevard (South), Bake Parkway, Kraemer Boulevard/Glassell Street/Grand Avenue, Adams Avenue*, Seal Beach/Los Alamitos Boulevard, Barranca Parkway, State College Boulevard*, Alton Parkway, Newport Avenue/Boulevard*, Harbor Boulevard, Trabuco Road*, and Jeronimo Road*

*Partially funded by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC)

2012

The Measure M2 Project P 2012 Call for Projects awarded nearly $10 million for 23 projects that included 24 jurisdictions to synchronize 517 signals along 137 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2012 M2 Project P Projects: Ball Road, Knott Avenue, 17th Street, Baker Street/Placentia Avenue, Victoria Street, Brea Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue, Lemon Street/Anaheim Boulevard, Placentia Avenue (Fullerton), Culver Drive, Jeffrey Road, La Habra Boulevard/Central Avenue/State College Boulevard, Lake Forest Drive, Pacific Park/Oso Parkway, Paseo de Valencia, Los Alisos Boulevard, Newport Coast Drive, San Joaquin Hills Road, Santa Margarita Parkway, Avenida Vista Hermosa, Camino de Los Mares, Edinger Avenue, and First Street/Bolsa Avenue

2011

The Measure M2 2011 Call for Projects awarded nearly $8 million for 16 projects that included 22 jurisdictions to synchronize 498 signals along 135 miles of Orange County streets and roads.

2011 M2 Project P Projects: Lincoln Avenue, Valley View Street, Fairview Road, Warner Avenue, Bastanchury Road, Euclid Street, Goldenwest Street, Jamboree Road, Lambert Road, Crown Valley Parkway, Marguerite Parkway, Avenida Pico, El Camino Real, Del Obispo Street, MacArthur Boulevard/Talbert Avenue, and Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive