On March 31, 2011, Orange County’s Measure M will sunset. As we reflect on how this 20-year, half-cent sales tax investment has transformed transportation in Orange County, we’d like to especially acknowledge the voters. Without their vision and foresight in passing Measure M, Orange County would not have the world class transportation system it has today. This pictorial highlights the progress we’ve made during the past 20 years. It’s been a wonderful journey.

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Prior to the passage of Measure M, Orange County was considered a suburban bedroom community. Between 1966 and 1989, only two new freeways had been added. These included the extension of the SR-57 / Orange Freeway to connect with the I-5 / Santa Ana Freeway, along with construction of two miles of the SR-73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway.(Photo: I-5 Freeway, Santa Ana)

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FREEWAYS

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During the past 20 years, Measure M has helped transform Orange County into a vibrant economic community. Measure M alone has constructed over $4 billion in transportation improvements. This funding allowed Orange County to access an additional $1.2 billion in state, federal and other funds, and more than 30 major freeway projects were delivered.

FREEWAYS

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Between 1990 and 2010, Orange County’s population grew by almost 800,000, roughly the same as the population of San Francisco. Because of Measure M, this extraordinary growth was accommodated.(Photo: I-5 Freeway, Central Orange County)

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FREEWAYS

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Most of the Measure M freeway projects were completed in the first ten years of the program. This accelerated timetable resulted in efficiencies, allowing another project, widening of the State Route 22 / Garden Grove Freeway, to be added. In total, Measure M delivered 192 lane miles of freeway capacity. (Photo: The Orange Crush)

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FREEWAYS

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The infamous El Toro Y went from being the county’s worst bottleneck area to a 26-lane engineering marvel that links north and south Orange County, while shaving as much as 20 minutes off motorists’ commutes.(Photo: The El Toro Y Before and After Construction)

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FREEWAYS

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Measure M helped move Orange County towards completion of the carpool lane system. Carpool lanes and freeway-to-freeway connector ramps were built; commuters can now travel seamlessly on carpool lanes throughout Orange County.(Photo: I-405/SR-55 Carpool Connectors)

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FREEWAYS

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Almost every Orange County freeway benefited from Measure M investment. The centerpiece of the freeway program was the rebuilding of Orange County’s Main Street, the I-5 / Santa Ana Freeway. Capacity on I-5 nearly doubled, expanding from its original six lanes to ten lanes across. (Photo: I-5 Freeway, Central Orange County)

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FREEWAYS

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The infrastructure investment resulting from Measure M helped support Orange County’s overall employment growth. Between 1990 and 2010, Orange County added more than 200,000 jobs. This includes many jobs in the engineering and construction industry.(Photo: SR-91 Freeway Construction)

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FREEWAYS

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A tremendous amount of effort has been put into improving Orange County’s arterial roadways. Measure M investment reflects 1,169 projects totaling $698 million, enhancing mobility so people can easily travel around Orange County. (Photo: Oso Parkway, South Orange County)

STREETS AND ROADS

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During the last two decades, 170 of Orange County’s busiest intersections were improved with additional turning lanes, improved signal operations and other safety enhancements. This resulted in a 10 percent decrease in intersection congestion. (Photo: Beach Boulevard, North Orange County)

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STREETS AND ROADS

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Measure M funded a myriad of “Smart Street” improvements. These included street widenings, intersection and median improvements and the addition of left and right turn pockets. Nearly 70 miles of arterials were continuous Smart Street corridors, Beach Boulevard being the first. (Photo: Beach Boulevard, South of the I-5)

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STREETS AND ROADS

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Measure M included a $63 million investment in countywide traffic signal synchronization. The program included 354 projects that resulted in an approximate 10 to 20 percent faster travel time, depending on the time of day.(Photo: Oso Parkway, Mission Viejo)

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STREETS AND ROADS

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Measure M provided cities and the county nearly $600 million in turnback funds for street repair, rehabilitation and other road improvements.

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STREETS AND ROADS

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Funded by Measure M, Orange County’s Metrolink service carries four million annual passenger trips. The service consists of three lines with 68 route miles and 11 stations. (Photo: Orange Metrolink Station)

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TRANSIT

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On a daily basis, Orange County’s Metrolink service has grown to carry 14,500 passengers. This is equivalent to 1-1/2 lanes of traffic on the I-5 during peak traffic times.(Photo: Tustin Metrolink Station)

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TRANSIT

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Measure M has funded three new Orange County train stations. Tustin and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo opened in 2002, and Buena Park, Orange County’s 11th train station, opened in 2007.(Photo: Buena Park Metrolink Station)

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TRANSIT

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Measure M led the way for the purchase of rail rights-of-way within Orange County, including portions of the Los Angeles/San Diego (LOSSAN) rail corridor and construction of a second main track throughout much of the county.

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TRANSIT

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Metrolink is a key transit service that travels through the core of the county to and from Los Angeles and the Inland Empire and along the coastline in the south linking with San Diego County. More than two-thirds of Orange County’s population and two-thirds of its jobs are within four miles of a Metrolink station.

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TRANSIT

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Measure M has helped keep transit fares low by subsidizing nearly 28,000 senior and special needs passenger trips each day.

TRANSIT

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MEASURE M: pRoMiSES MAdE, pRoMiSES KEpt

INVESTMENTS*

Freeways $1,750

Regional Streets $448

Local Streets $856

Transit $1,020

Total $4,074*Dollars in millions

Measure M is administered by OCTA • www.octa.net

®

the southern california transportation coalition

One Region. One Voice. One Future.

tHANK YoU to oUR SpoNSoRS

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