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Metro track work could delay commuters this week

By WTOP Staff

Amy Freedman, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Metro track work continues this week during off-peak hours Monday, March 5, through Friday, March 9.

There is no scheduled work for the Red Line.

On the Orange Line: Trains may encounter brief delays through Rosslyn, Va., Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, due to single tracking on the Blue Line. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.

Monday through Thursday, beginning at 10 p.m. each night, trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church for testing associated with the Dulles Rail Project, and between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory for platform rehabilitation work. Expect delays of 5-10 minutes.

On the Blue Line: Trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery for rail, fastener, tie and insulator renewal. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

Monday through Thursday beginning at 10 p.m. each night, trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory for platform rehabilitation work. Expect delays of 5-10 minutes.

On the Green Line: Trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt for rail, fastener, tie and insulator renewal. Between Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.

On the Yellow Line: no work is scheduled.

This work is part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair.

The CIP includes projects to replace escalators, retrofit track, replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way, and rehabilitate third-rail power systems.

The program will also improve running rail and track pads, modernize 12 stations, replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more, renovate three bus garages, and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules.

For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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