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Road improvements underway at Fort Belvoir

By Kristi King

WASHINGTON — A major road construction project is getting underway on U.S. Route 1 near Fort Belvoir.

The work on Richmond Highway between Telegraph Road (Route 611) and Mount Vernon Highway (Route 235) will occur in phases beginning near the middle of the 3.68 mile stretch. It will take about two years to complete.

“That’ll definitely have an impact on me,” says Dave Moser. He lives on the Fort Belvoir base and says traffic already is a hassle. Moser works for the army and could be transferred in a few years. So he’ll likely endure all the pain with none of the projected gains. “Probably about the time I’m leaving would be the earliest they’d get it done,” says Moser.

The project’s north edge is about nine miles south of the capital beltway 495 in Alexandria and adjacent to another construction project that already has proven a headache to some area business.

The Jeff Todd Way – Mulligan Road connector will link Telegraph road with U.S. Route 1 north of the Fort Belvoir base. It’s expected to open within two months or so and promises to relieve some of the delays expected on U.S. 1 because of the Fort Belvoir related construction.

“When I first started working here it was too busy,” says clerk Daniel Mulu at the Woodlawn Exxon Gas station located at the intersection of Mount Vernon Highway, Jeff Todd Way and U.S. Route 1. Since the construction started on the connector road Mulu says he spends most of his time at work watching movies and listening to the radio.

Also near that intersection “I’m losing a lot of business,” says Woodlawn Auto Center Owner Chris Lambrou. “I’m behind $60,000 in six months,” says Lambrou.

Construction along the Fort Belvoir corridor on Richmond Highway is expected to http://rte1ftbelvoir.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Rt-1-Pardon-Our-Dust- PowerPoint.pdf take place only on weekends, overnights and mid-days.

Some of the promised upgrades:

  • Widen U.S. Route 1 from four to six through lanes
  • Establish turn lanes at key intersections and connecting roadways
  • Create bike lanes, sidewalks and a multi-use trail
  • Improve portions of Telegraph Road
  • Replace numbers of bridges

Twenty years of planning for all this has included project partners Fairfax County, Fort Belvoir, Virginia’s Department of Transportation, Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division.

“Two years from now, yeah it’ll be a benefit. I’ll feel better seeing more lanes” says Pam Neal who commutes between the city of Alexandria and Fort Belvoir. But mulling over how long she thinks construction might add to her commute she adds, “these two years are going to be hard.”

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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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