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Work planned on all Metro lines, except Yellow Line

By WTOP Staff

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals are out of town this weekend, so there shouldn’t be any unexpected slowdowns on Interstate 295/D.C. 295 and South Capitol Street near Nationals Park.

Travelers are in for Metro delays this weekend, with some Red Line station closures and lots of single-tracking.

Another hot spot for delays will be the Fairfax County Parkway near Interstate 66, where there will be construction closures.

Metro track work

Here is the latest from Metro:

Red Line

  • Buses will replace Red Line trains between Grosvenor and Friendship Heights stations.
  • The Medical Center and Bethesda stations will be closed.
  • Red Line trains will operate in two segments – between Shady Grove and Grosvenor and between Friendship Heights and Glenmont. On each segment, trains will operate every 10 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
  • Delays of at least 30 minutes are expected.

Orange Line

  • Orange Line trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon, and between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate every 24 minutes.
  • Delays of at least 20 minutes are expected.

Blue Line

  • Trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery.
  • Trains will operate every 24 minutes.
  • Delays of 20 minutes are expected.

Green Line

  • Trains will single track between Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza.
  • Throughout the weekend, Green Line trains will operate every 16 minutes.
  • Delays of about 10 minutes are expected.

Gov Mitt Romney visits Manassas, Va.

On Saturday, Aug. 11, an event featuring Mitt Romney will be held at the Harris Pavilion. The following streets will be affected:

  • West Street will be closed for vehicle traffic from 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 until 7 p.m. from Prince William Street to Church Street. Center Street from West to Battle streets will be open to pedestrian traffic all day with the exception of potential impacts during the movement of the bus caravan.
  • North bound Center Street, from Grant Avenue to Battle Street will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pedestrian access to Katrina’s Restaurant will still be possible.

Fairfax County Parkway and I-66 closures

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, the ramps from both eastbound and westbound I-66 to the southbound Fairfax County Parkway will be closed for roadwork.

The closures will be in place all weekend, so expect delays on both I-66 and the Fairfax County Parkway.

Detour routes for access to the Fairfax County Parkway:

  • Eastbound I-66 will be directed to northbound Rt. 29 to access the Fairfax County Parkway.
  • Westbound I-66 will be directed to wesbound Route 50 and Ox Road to access the Fairfax County Parkway.

Through the weekend, southbound Fairfax County Parkway will be reduced to one lane between Fair Lakes Circle and the Route 29 interchange.

Dulles Airport Access lanes to close

Sunday night starting at 9 p.m., construction will close the eastbound Dulles International Airport Access Highway between the exit to Route 123/I-495 and the Dulles Connector Road.

Traffic will be forced to use the Dulles Toll Road, and tolls will not be collected for the remainder of that route.

The closure will clear at 5 a.m. Monday.

Also scheduled for Sunday night between 11:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., the eastbound Dulles Connector Road/Route 267 will be closed between the Beltway/I-495 and Route 123.

Traffic will be detoured to the Outer Loop of I-495, then to Route 123 to get back to th Dulles Connector Road.

Beltway construction update

Overnight paving continues on both loops of the Capital Beltway between I-66 and Georgetown Pike. Expect a minimum of two lanes getting by between 9:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. After midnight, temporary total closures are possible for up to 30 minutes at a time.

Also scheduled for Friday and Saturday between 9:30 p.m. and 9 a.m., westbound I- 66 will have two lanes blocked between the Beltway and Gallows Road for ongoing bridge demolition. Temporary total closures for up to 30 minutes are possible after midnight.

I-95 HOV lanes closure

Starting at 9 p.m. Friday and continuing through 9 a.m. Saturday, the I-95 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes will be closed between Dumfries Road and Franconia Road for sign work. At 9 a.m. Saturday, HOV lanes will reopen in the northbound direction.

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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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