To receive the Board Actions newsletter via e-mail, contact Laura Scheper at lscheper@octa.net or (714) 560-5697.
June 10, 2013 Board Meeting
OCTA Board Adopts Balanced Budget
The Orange County Transportation Authority board of directors considered adopting a $1.26 billion budget for the year beginning July 1. The fiscal year 2013-14 budget encompasses all services, project and programs administered by OCTA and includes a 4 percent increase in bus service.
Highlights of the proposed budget include:
- $281 million for bus operations, an increase of $14 million over fiscal year 2012-13.
- $153 million in Measure M funds, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, for voter-approved freeway improvement projects along the SR-91, SR-57, I-5, I-405 and SR-55
- $322 million in Measure M funds for street and road improvements, including $150 million for the OC Bridges program, $140 million for city projects and $14 million for signal synchronization
- $200 million for rail improvements including construction of the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, Placentia Metrolink station and the State College Grade Separation project
The budget also reflects a savings of $400,000 from a pension reform plan the board approved earlier this year in which administrative employees will begin paying a portion for their pension costs.
For more information, visit www.octa.net/budget.
OCTA Seeks Projects to Improve Water Quality
Beginning June 24, OCTA will begin accepting applications for projects that will improve water quality from transportation-related pollution.
The board authorized spending approximately $25.3 million on projects as part of the Measure M2 Environmental Cleanup Program. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve water quality in streams, harbors and other waterways.
In February, the board approved $12.7 million for eight projects as part of the first call for projects under this program.
Applications for this latest call for projects are due on Sept. 24 and will be reviewed by the Environmental Cleanup Allocation Committee based on preset criteria. OCTA staff will return to the board late this year with funding recommendations.
The M2 Environmental Cleanup Program is a comprehensive plan that will help preserve and restore water quality throughout the county. Over the next 30 years, approximately $300 million will be provided to improve water quality and reduce pollutants that lead to waterways.
For more information regarding OCTA's environmental program, visit www.octa.net/water.
Long-Range Transportation Plan Goals Provides Vision
The board reviewed the framework, goals and objectives for the Long-Range Transportation Plan, which is updated every four years and creates a vision for the future of Orange County's transportation system. OCTA's plan is provided to the Southern California Association of Government's to be included in the Regional Transportation Plan.
The plan's 2014 goals and objectives include:
- Delivering on the commitments of Measure M2 to voters
- Improving transportation system performance by reducing delay because of congestion, increasing facility speeds and increasing transit ridership
- Expanding transportation system choices by investing in new facilities, expanding transit service and improving multimodal integration
- Supporting sustainability by investing in infrastructure maintenance, implementing environmental strategies and ensuring financial sustainability
These goals and objectives will serve as performance measures for the plan. An outreach plan has also been prepared to increase awareness and solicit stakeholder input.
The plan is expected to be finalized in summer 2014.
View Board Actions Archive