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 3,400 intersections along more than 886 miles of
streets (98 completed projects). The OCTA Board of Directors, through a competitive process, have approved 12
rounds of M2 funding for Project P. On May 9, 2022, the Board awarded approximately $16.2 million dollars to
five projects as part of the 2022 Call for Projects Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (RTSSP). To
date, OCTA has funded more than $157 million, including $25.5 million in external funding, to 128 projects.
27 projects are planned or in progress through Project P. As of September 2022, the program has resulted in:
- 98 completed signal synchronization projects
- $157 million in funding awarded by the OCTA Board of Directors
- Approximately $88.2 million in improvements along 886 miles and 3,445 signals
- Travel time savings: 13%
- Speed improvements: 14%
- Stop reduction: 28%
- $224.8 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