Transportation agency to allocate $6 million for road projects

Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine and Huntington Beach are among 15 Orange County cities set to receive funds from the county transportation agency to improve traffic flow.

The Orange County Transportation Authority announced Friday that the agency will allocate $6 million for five projects in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Huntington Beach to improve and widen busy streets and intersections.

The funds were collected through Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax, which voters first approved in 1990 and renewed for 30 years in 2006.

OCTA issued a call for projects in August, making funding available for reducing congestion on city streets and traffic signal synchronization.

City applications were reviewed by OCTA, and ultimately $47 million was allocated to 15 Orange County cities, according to a news release.

OCTA allocated $2.5 million to widen University Drive, from MacArthur Boulevard to Campus Drive in Irvine, and $1.2 million to widen Atlanta Avenue in Huntington Beach.

The agency will also provide $500,000 for improvements to the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Gisler Avenue, $260,000 to widen West 17th Street and $37,500 to improve the intersection of Hyland Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard in Costa Mesa.

Newport Beach will receive $1.8 million to synchronize traffic signals on Coast Highway to ensure drivers hit green lights during peak traffic hours.