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Council Members Caution Against Plowing Capital Crescent Trail

By WTOP Staff

The Georgetown Branch extension of the Capital Crescent Trail at Jones Mill Road on Jan. 30A $75,000 pilot program to clear snow from the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda is still alive, though members of a County Council committee had doubts about how practical the project would be.

The Council’s Planning Committee discussed the proposal, provided by Montgomery Parks at the request of Councilmember Roger Berliner, in regards to next year’s county budget.

The Committee agreed to put the program on a reconciliation list to be discussed by the full Council. But Councilmember George Leventhal worried that plowing the trail would actually invite bicyclists into dangerous situations.

“I’m worried we are inviting a dangerous activity,” Leventhal said, in comments to Parks staff at the hearing. “No one ever thinks they’re going to get into an accident. I’m envisioning a lot of bicyclists losing control and having problems on black ice.”

Parks Director Mary Bradford said the pilot is possible because the hard trail surface is the only commuter trail in the county that could sustain the required snow removal machinery. Montgomery Parks operates the 3.8-mile stretch of the Capital Crescent Trail from Bethesda to the D.C. line.

Bradford also pointed to snow removal on the D.C. section of the Trail — provided by the National Park Service — as a reason for why the Capital Crescent Trail was unique.

But the Trail’s distinction among other county trails isn’t the only issue, Councilmember Nancy Floreen said. She wondered why resources should be targeted toward plowing the Trail when the county doesn’t have snow removal plans for much-used sidewalks or other facilities.

The pilot would last for two years and assumes five snow events each winter.

“I think the time is coming where there will be more and more demand for this as Bikeshare stations are going in and more people bike to work,” Bradford said. “I think this is just the beginning of this.”

Parks has been reluctant in the past to commit to plowing specific trails over others. But pressed by Berliner — who was pressed by bicyclists who said the Trail was effectively frozen over for long stretches — Parks provided the $75,000 cost estimate.

The cost includes a new piece of equipment that could be modified to work on other Parks projects, just in case the pilot didn’t last or there were fewer significant snowfalls.

The pilot would also include hand snow removal on 13 feeder trails along the 3.8-mile section.

That led Councilmember Marc Elrich to question how bicyclists would get to the Trail if certain roads or sidewalks aren’t plowed.

“The more we talk about it, the more impractical it seems,” Elrich said.

The Committee did agree to send it to the full Council for more discussion.

“I’m not going to be the bad guy on this,” Leventhal said.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation separately operates the Georgetown Branch Extension of the Trail, much of which is not a hard surface.

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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