Measure M
For the past 20 years, Measure M has been the major force behind traffic congestion relief in Orange County. Measure M is the Transportation Ordinance and Plan approved first by Orange County voters in 1990 and renewed for a 30-year extension by voters in 2006. The combined measures raise the sales tax in Orange County by one-half cent for a total period of 50 years (1991 to 2041) to alleviate traffic congestion. This money is administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and pays for specific voter-approved transportation projects for freeway improvements, local street and road improvements, and rail and transit programs. [ read more ]
Funding Allocation
Transportation Investment Plan (2011-2041)
The list below features a balanced plan with specific projects and programs.
| Location |
Project Page |
Fact Sheet |
| Freeway Projects |
 I-5 Improvements between SR-55 and SR-57 |
view |
download |
 I-5 Improvements between SR-55 and El Toro "Y" |
view |
download |
 I-5 Improvements south of El Toro "Y" |
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 I-5 Local Interchange Upgrades |
view |
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 SR-22 Garden Grove Freeway Access Improvements |
view |
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 SR-55 Costa Mesa Freeway Access Improvements |
view |
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 SR-57 Orange Freeway Improvements |
view |
download |
 SR-91 Improvements between I-5 and SR-57 |
view |
download |
 SR-91 Improvements between SR-57 and SR-55 |
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 SR-91 Improvements between SR-55 and County Line |
view |
download |
 I-405 Improvements between I-605 and SR-55 |
view |
download |
 I-405 Improvements between SR-55 and I-5 |
view |
|
 I-605 Freeway Improvements |
view |
|
 All Freeway Service Patrol |
view |
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 Environmental Mitigation |
view |
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| Street and Road Projects |
 Regional Capacity Program |
view |
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 Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program |
view |
download |
 Local Fair Share Program |
view |
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| Transit Projects |
 High Frequency Metrolink Service |
view |
download |
 Transit Extensions to Metrolink |
view |
download |
 Metrolink Gateways |
view |
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 Expand Mobility Choices for Seniors & Persons w/ Disabilities |
view |
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 Community Based Transit/Circulators |
view |
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 Safe Transit Stops |
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| Environmental Cleanup |
 Clean Up Highway and Street Runoff that Pollutes Beaches |
view |
download |
| Taxpayer Safegaurds and Audits |
| Collect Sales Taxes (State charges required by law) |
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| Oversight and Audits |
view |
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Future Transportation Improvements
The collection of sales tax revenue for the first Measure M ended on March 31, 2011 and began for the extended Measure M on April 1, 2011. The extension of Measure M is infusing $15 billion of investments in Orange County's transportation system during the next 30 years with improvements designed to reduce traffic congestion, strengthen the economy and improve our quality of life by:
- upgrading freeways
- fixing major freeway interchanges
- maintaining streets and roads
- synchronizing traffic signals countywide
- building a visionary, integrated transit system
- protecting our environment from the oily street runoff that pollutes orange County beaches
- mitigating freeway impacts by protecting open space while streamlining the permitting process.
As with the first 20 years, Measure M is focused on improving the transportation system and includes stringent taxpayer safeguards including a Taxpayers Oversight Committee, required annual audits and regular, public reports on project progress. A performance assessment must be conducted every three years. Additionally, every 10 years, a detailed review of the investment plan must take place to evaluate the overall performance of the program against any changes which may have taken place in Orange County to see if any amendments are necessary.