OCTA Board Approves Balanced Budget

The Orange County Transportation Authority board of directors today approved the budget for next fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2013.

The $1.075 billion budget encompasses all services, project and programs administered by OCTA including countywide bus and rail service, transit capital improvements, operations of the 91 Express Lanes, ongoing freeway improvements, Orange County Taxi Administration and street and road enhancements, according to a press release.

“This budget is balanced, fiscally conservative and leverages Measure M dollars effectively to attract state and federal funds,” said “Through prudent financial planning we are protecting taxpayer dollars and utilizing all available resources to keep our county moving.”

Highlights of the budget include:

• $267 million for bus operations.
• $580 million in Measure M funds, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, for voter-approved projects such as the O.C. Bridges program and SR-91 freeway improvements.
• $20 million for Metrolink rail service in Orange County.
• $16 million for construction of the Placentia Metrolink station.

 The budget also includes adding 23,000 hours of additional bus service that will be targeted along routes with high ridership levels.

For more information, visit octa.net/budget_info.aspx.