OCTA Approves $1.7B Budget for FY23-24

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors on June 12 approved a balanced budget of $1.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.

According to OCTA, the approved budget makes significant improvements in public transit—totaling approximately 52% of the overall budget—and makes improvements to Orange County’s freeways and streets to keep the county “moving safely and efficiently.”

Overall, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 budget, which encompasses all services, projects and programs that are administered by OCTA, represents an approximate $48 million increase over the previous year’s budget. By comparison, last year’s budget rose by nearly 30%, after two years of budget cuts largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coming year’s budget, OCTA says, anticipates a moderate increase in sales tax receipts that help fund transit and other transportation projects through the voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax from transportation improvements administered by the agency.

Other themes of next year’s budget include:

• Continuing to support Metrolink service at 90% of pre-pandemic service levels.
• Advancing planning studies for longer-term solutions to protect the coastal rail line.
• Making significant progress toward completion of the OC Streetcar project.
• Sustaining the current level of bus operations despite exhausting federal relief funds.
• Ongoing investment in zero-emission buses and infrastructure to support the ongoing conversion to a full zero-emission fleet.
• The 91 Express Lanes continues to meet its commitments.
• Plans to open the 405 Express Lanes in late 2023, along with the overall I-405 Improvement Project completion.
• Delivering on the projects and programs promised through Measure M.

Measure M, also known as OC Go, will continue to fund improvements to freeways and streets throughout Orange County, along with multiple transit and environmental programs, according to OCTA.

Major initiatives for the budget include advancing capital improvement projects on freeways, including I-405 and I-5 in South County, and SR-55, SR-57 and SR-91. The year ahead will also improve local streets and continue serving Orange County’s transit needs, while moving toward a goal of zero-emissions to help improve air quality for the entire community.

“I’m proud of the work we’re doing at OCTA to continue delivering a balanced budget that benefits Orange County residents, workers and visitors,” said OCTA Chairman and Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Hernandez. “With this funding plan we successfully demonstrate that we remain responsible stewards of taxpayers’ dollars while providing a safe, reliable and sustainable transportation system for all.”