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Measure V report highlights transportation upgrades across Merced County
Measure V
One of the Measure V projects included a single lane roundabout on State Route 140/33 at the intersection of Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue on SR-33/140 in Gustine (Photo contributed).

The Merced County Association of Governments has released the 2026 edition of On the MoVe, its annual community report detailing how Measure V transportation sales tax dollars were spent across Merced County. The voter‑approved half‑cent sales tax generated $26.7 million in revenue during Fiscal Year 2024‑25 and invested nearly $15 million in transportation improvements countywide. The audited financial statements included in the report show, “total revenue: $26,762,905… total expenditure: $14,984,261.”

Since Measure V took effect in 2017, the program has produced more than $200 million for road repairs, mobility upgrades and public transit. This year’s report highlights dozens of projects completed between July 2024 and June 2025, ranging from street rehabilitation and bridge replacements to sidewalk infill, bicycle infrastructure and intersection improvements. Every incorporated city in Merced County received Measure V funding, along with county‑maintained roads and regional corridors.

Countywide, Measure V supported a wide range of transportation improvements. Examples highlighted in the report include the Lorraine Street Bridge replacement in Dos Palos, Palm Avenue rehabilitation in Merced County, and multiple sidewalk and street repairs in Merced, Livingston and Los Banos. The report also shows $2.3 million spent on alternative transportation modes, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements and investments in zero‑emission transit vehicles.

Public transportation continues to play a major role in countywide mobility. Measure V’s free‑fare program provided 202,019 rides on The Bus’ fixed‑route system last fiscal year. Of those trips, 133,358 were taken by seniors, 63,366 by ADA‑eligible passengers and 5,295 by veterans. The report states that the program “helped residents access employment, medical care, shopping and other essential services.”

MCAG Executive Director Stacie Guzman said the annual report demonstrates the value of the voter‑approved measure. “Every Measure V dollar spent represents an investment that Merced County residents made in their own communities,” Guzman said.

The full 2026 On the MoVe report is available at mcagov.org/onthemove, with free printed copies in English and Spanish at all Merced County city halls and the county administration building.