OCTA Awards Millions to Revamp Local Streets

Newport Beach and other Orange County cities will receive thousands of dollars to help carry out improvements on streets and roads following the Orange County Transportation Authority board’s approval last week of funding for 54 projects.

Every Orange County city and the county will receive a share of $21 million for improvement projects that are expected to be under construction by the middle of next year. In Newport Beach, the city will be awarded $692,224 for the Balboa Boulevard and Channel Road Portland cement concrete pavement reconstruction. With the city’s matching funds, the project totals $1.3 million.

Nearby in Costa Mesa, the city will receive $921,087 for the Red Hill Avenue rehabilitation project between Bristol Street and Paularino Avenue.

Thirty-five Orange County agencies submitted applications for the funds, which are available through a grant program as part of the Proposition 1B bond that provides nearly $20 billion for transportation improvements throughout the state. The funds require dollar-for-dollar matching funds that must be provided through a local transportation sales tax, such as Orange County’s Measure M2.

Of the 87 applications that were submitted, 54 projects were approved by OCTA for funding. The projects -- which range from street rehabilitation to pavement repair to a bicycle trail construction -- need final approval from the state.