California's Orange County Transportation Authority recently approved a $57 billion plan that will serve as a blueprint for how people move throughout the county for the next two decades, according to OCTA's news release. 

OCTA develops a Long-Range Transportation Plan every four years, taking into consideration changing demographics, anticipated growth in travel demand, shifting travel patterns, and emerging technology.

“OCTA has earned a strong reputation for delivering a reliable and sustainable transportation system for Orange County by continually looking at current and future needs,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez. “This is a great example of that kind of planning ensuring we successfully prepare for a diverse transportation future, with considerable input from the public and collaboration with our community partners.” 

Key Factors of OCTA's Plan

​The plan establishes transportation priorities and addresses five key factors likely to influence planning for the next 20 years, including:   

• Growing travel demand and a built-out roadway system

• Evolving travel needs

• Increasing climate-related risks 

• Changing funding with the sunset of the Measure M half-cent sales tax in 2041

• Ensuring a fair and equitable transportation system for all.

OCTA Seeking Input

The amount of funds to carry out the 2045 Preferred Plan is projected at about $57.3 billion, while revenues for transportation between now and 2045 are estimated at $52.4 billion.

That leaves about a $5 billion shortfall. So, the plan recommends developing a strategy to identify funding sources that could offset the 2041 sunset of the Measure M transportation sales tax.

The LRTP identifies projects to improve roadways, public transit, and bike paths while considering evolving technologies.

To help shape the plan, OCTA sought and received extensive input from the community, including: 

• Collecting more than 8,300 surveys in multiple languages

• Hosting 25 community briefings and roundtables

• Engaging more than 15,000 community members at community events

• Promoting the effort via social media and targeted ads, viewed approximately 540,000 times.

The plan will be submitted to the Southern California Association of Governments, where it will serve as Orange County’s input into the Regional Transportation Plan, the guiding document for regional transportation planning in Southern California.