The Reconvened Session of the General Assembly that met last week concluded work for this year on the most significant funding program for transportation infrastructure approved by the legislature since the historic special session in 1986.The bill that had previously passed the legislature in the 2013 Regular Session was sent to the Governor for his approval and signature.He proposed a series of amendments that were voted on last Wednesday and approved by the House and the Senate.The Governor will now sign the bill into law.

There is no getting around the fact that the new law will cost the motoring public some extra dollars.One advantage of the bill is that it raises most of the money from those who use the roads.The more vehicles you buy, the more gas you use, or the more cars you title the more you will pay for the construction and upkeep of the roads.This very point allowed some legislators who were opposed to raising taxes to vote for the bill for they considered the new revenues to be coming from "user fees."By whatever name is necessary to develop pubic understanding, the new law establishes a framework for revenue growth that will help keep up with the cost of inflation and growth.The cents per gallon gasoline tax for example will be replaced with a sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline. It is doubtful that there will be a noticeable change in gasoline prices at the pump considering the fluctuations in gas prices that already occur based on market factors.

The purchase of new cars has always had a reduced sales tax rate.The current 3.5 percent will become 4 percent on July 1, 2013, and will increase slightly each year until it reaches 4.15 percent on July 1, 2016, still below the sales tax on all other purchases.For the special needs of Northern Virginia there will also be a "congestion relief fee" of $0.15 per $100.00 value of the net sales price of a home. A transit occupancy tax on hotel rooms at the rate of two percent is also established for Northern Virginia.While the new law strengthens the statewide maintenance and construction fund, it recognizes the unique needs of the suburbs of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads and provides that the special funds that are raised in those regions stay there for use in the region.No more sending money to Richmond with a percentage of it not making its ways back.Language in the law also requires that priority be given to projects that offer relief from congestion.

There is a strong mass transit component to the law that provides funding for inter-city rail and $300 million off the top to help with the funding of the Silver Line.The additional funds should help keep tolls to a more reasonable level on the Dulles Toll Road.

The Governor offered an amendment at my request and the urging of others that the alternative fuel fee be eliminated or reduced.He chose to reduce it from $100 to $64.The House leadership has committed to a study of the fee during this year to consider if it should be assessed, if so the amount, and if so the special vehicles to which it should apply.I expect major revisions on this issue in the 2014 session.The job is not totally complete in other areas as well. Clearly, though, we have paved the way for Virginians and the future. 

The proposed bus service plan that will coincide with the start of service on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) new Silver Line in December 2013 will be discussed at a series of public meetings. The plan includes the creation of 12 new routes, the restructuring of 24 existing routes and the elimination of six routes. The revised plan incorporates changes suggested by riders and the community since the original service proposal was released in January 2013. The complete bus service plan will be discussed at each meeting, with special emphasis placed on area service changes for the general vicinity of each meeting location.    

--Monday, April 15: 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Reston Service Discussion), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 551, RIBS 1, RIBS 2 and RIBS 3.

--Wednesday, April 17: 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Herndon Service Discussion), Herndon Town Council Chambers, 765 Lynn Street, Herndon. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 950 and RIBS 5.  

--Thursday, April 18: 6:30-8:30 p.m., (Reston Service  Discussion), Reston Community Center Lake Anne, JoAnn Rose Library, 1609A Washington Plaza, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 552, 574, RIBS 1 and RIBS 3.  

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) encourages Virginians to start a conversation about their personal finances. To encourage people to talk about financial matters, the Securities Division makes available a series of "Conversation Starters," developed by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and available on NASAA's website at www.nasaa.org. These conversation starters, which consist of a series of open-ended questions, are designed to help families begin an ongoing dialogue about budgeting, saving, investing and avoiding fraud. The SCC website (www.scc.virginia.gov) also offers numerous investor education materials. Additional information is available on the NASAA website and at InvestWiselyVA.com. 

You can help stop Medicare fraud! The Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP) trains volunteers to assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse through outreach, counseling and education. Volunteers are needed statewide. Training is provided. Contact Nancy Siford, Volunteer Coordinator at nsiford@thev4a.org or visit the Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol Program website at VirginiaSMP.org.