Renewed Measure M Early Action Plan (EAP)

On Nov. 7, 2006, Orange County voters, by a vote of 70 percent, approved the renewal of the Measure M one-half cent sales tax for transportation improvements. Measure M was originally passed in 1990 (M1) with a sunset in 2011. With the approval of the Renewed Measure M (M2), the voters agreed to continued investment of local tax dollars in Orange County's transportation infrastructure for another 30 years to 2041.

A primary reason for the voters' willingness to renew Measure M was that they saw and experienced tangible results. Since 1990, most of Orange County's freeway system has been improved, including a major overhaul of the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) right through the heart of Orange County; major roads and local streets have been upgraded; and a new Metrolink commuter rail system has been added, linking Orange County with jobs and housing in the surrounding counties.

Because of careful stewardship and strategic early action, Orange County has also been able to meet the promises made to the voters in M1, and then some. Completing the bulk of the freeway program within 10 years contributed to the ability to add an entirely new project — widening the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) — to the list of accomplishments.

Although both M1 and M2 express a strong preference for pay-as-you-go project financing, they both also permit debt financing under the proper conditions. In the case of the M1 freeway program, the benefits of early action are obvious and tangible — projects cost less, traffic relief was delivered sooner as well as additional projects were delivered.

The OCTA Board of Directors requested that OCTA staff prepare a five-year plan, covering the years 2007 to 2012, to advance the implementation of M2. A draft plan outlining the projects and programs that could be advanced along with anticipated schedules and major milestones was approved by the Board of Directors and released on May 29, 2007. Input was actively sought from city officials and key stakeholders, and recommendations on financing and budget needs were added before approval of the final early action plan [PDF 10MB] by the Board of Directors on Aug. 13, 2007.