Renewed Measure MIntroduction & Overview

Introduction | Overview | Early Action Plan Overview | Investment Summary

 

Measure M Promises Fulfilled
 On November 6, 1990, Orange County voters approved Measure M, a half-cent local transportation sales tax for twenty years. All of the major projects promised to and approved by the voters are underway or complete. Funds that go to cities and the County of Orange to maintain and improve local street and roads, along with transit fare reductions for seniors and persons with disabilities, will continue until Measure M ends in 2011. The promises made in Measure M have been fulfilled.

 

Continued Investment Needed
Orange County continues to grow. By the year 2030, Orange County’s population will increase by 24 percent from 2.9 million in 2000 to 3.6 million in 2030; jobs will increase by 27 percent; and travel on our roads and highways by 39 percent. Without continued investment average morning rush hour speeds on Orange County freeways will fall by 31 percent and on major streets by 32 percent. Responding to this continued growth and broad support for investment in Orange County’s transportation system, the Orange County Transportation Authority considered the transportation projects and programs that would be possible if Measure M were renewed. The Authority, together with the 34 cities of Orange County, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and thousands of Orange County citizens, participated during the last eighteen months in developing a Transportation Investment Plan for consideration by the voters.

 

A Plan for New Transportation Investments
The Plan that follows is a result of those efforts. It reflects the varied interests and priorities inherent in the diverse communities of Orange County. It includes continued investment to expand and improve Orange County’s freeway system; commitment to maintaining and improving the network of streets and roads in every community; an expansion of Metrolink rail service through the core of Orange County with future extensions to connect with nearby communities and regional rail systems; more transit service for seniors and disabled persons; and funds to clean up runoff from roads that leads to beach closures.

 

Strong Safeguards 
These commitments are underscored by a set of strong taxpayer safeguards to ensure that promises made in the Plan are kept. They include an annual independent audit and report to the taxpayers; ongoing monitoring and review of spending by an independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee; requirement for full public review and update of the Plan every ten years; voter approval for any major changes to the Plan; strong penalties for any misuse of funds and a strict limit of no more than one percent for administrative expenses.

 

No Increase in Taxes
The traffic improvements detailed in this plan do not require an increase in taxes. Renewal of the existing Measure M one-half cent transportation sales tax will enable all of the projects and programs to be implemented. And by using good planning and sensible financing, projects that are ready to go could begin as early as 2007.

 

Renewing Measure M
The projects and programs that follow constitute the Transportation Investment Plan for the renewal of the Measure M transportation sales tax approved by Orange County voters in November of 1990. These improvements are necessary to address current and future transportation needs in Orange County and reflect the best efforts to achieve consensus among varied interests and communities throughout the County.