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Weekend Wakeup Call: Metro headaches and new traffic patterns

By WTOP Staff

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Washington Nationals games are scheduled at Nationals Park Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m., so watch for delays on South Capitol Street and DC-295/I- 295 near the 11th Street Bridge and Howard Road. Another home ballgame is scheduled for Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

Metro delays will cause more headaches this weekend, especially on the Red Line, which will have three station closures.

The new improved traffic pattern is in place on the Beltway/I-495 LOCAL-THRU Lanes near the Wilson Bridge, but work continues on Telegraph Road. Access to Telegraph Road from the Outer Loop will be blocked for most of the weekend.

Read on for the details, and have a great weekend!

Metro construction

Weekend track work continues on all lines except Yellow. Here’s the update from Metro:

Red Line

  • Buses will replace trains between Silver Spring and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations.
  • Red Line trains will operate in two segments throughout the weekend: Between Glenmont and Silver Spring, and between NoMa-Gallaudet U and Shady Grove — every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
  • Takoma, Brookland and Rhode Island Avenue stations will be closed.
  • Fort Totten Station will be open for Green and Yellow line service only.
  • Delays of at least 50 minutes are expected for travelers using shuttle bus service.
  • Customers traveling between Fort Totten and downtown D.C. may wish to consider using Green or Yellow line service to avoid delays.

Orange Line

  • Orange Line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly stations.
  • Orange Line trains will operate every 20 minutes in each direction.
  • Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.

    Blue Line

      • Blue Line trains will single-track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations.

    • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes in each direction.
    • Delays of at least 10 minutes are expected.

      Green Line

      • Green Line trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt stations.
      • Trains will operate at normal weekend intervals, but every other train will begin/end service at College Park instead of Greenbelt.
      • Customers traveling to/from Greenbelt Station should allow up to 15 minutes of additional travel time.

      Telegraph Road Interchange

      The new lane configuration on the Beltway/I-495 at the LOCAL/THRU lanes split is complete, but construction continues on Telegraph Road.

      Starting Friday at 9 p.m. through Sunday at 5 a.m., the ramp from the Outer Loop of I-495 to southbound Telegraph Road/Huntington Avenue/N. Kings Highway will be closed.

      Drivers will have to exit to southbound Route 1 to westbound Huntington Avenue for access to Telegraph Road and N. Kings Highway.

      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.

      DC-295 construction

      Watch out for Friday daytime delays on southbound DC-295 near the 11th Street Bridge and Howard Road as part of the Anacostia Waterfront construction project.

      Weather permitting, crews will block the right lane on southbound DC-295 before and after the Howard Road exit between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

      Sunday street closure in the District

      On Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 6th Street NW will be closed between P and Q streets. Crews will be on site for a film production, so watch for delays on surrounding streets.

      Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon

      Howard County police say drivers can expect major traffic delays Sunday morning on Route 108 near Centennial Park because of the Athleta iron Girl Columbia Triathlon.

      Between 7 a.m. and 10:30 Route 108 will be closed to westbound traffic between Ten Mills Road and Centennial Lane. Southbound Centennial Lane from the park entrance to Md. 108 will also be closed.

      There will be temporary road closures throughout residential roads along the bicycle course.

      Delays can be expected on the following roads:

      • Homewood Road
      • Folly Quarter Road
      • Carroll Mill Road
      • Mt. Albert Road
      • Cantor Lane
      • Jumpers Hill Road
      • Triadelphia Road

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      • 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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