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Bicycle advocates want off-road Wisconsin Ave. crossing restored

By WTOP Staff

CCT tunnel Option 1, via Montgomery County Planning Department

An influential group of bicycle advocates has started a petition seeking another off-road crossing of Wisconsin Avenue along the Capital Crescent Trail.

The petition, from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, comes a few weeks after the County Council agreed not to pursue a proposal for the Bethesda Purple Line station that would have meant a separate trail tunnel for bicyclists under the busy road. The deal with the owner of the Apex Building and a third-party developer would’ve cost the county a reported $68-$70 million, though the exact figure is unknown since the discussion was held in closed session.

WABA advocacy coordinator Greg Billing wrote on Monday that the group is working closely with Montgomery County on a previously planned road-level detour that would take Capital Crescent Trail users up Bethesda Avenue and through Elm Street Park.

But WABA is unhappy that no Apex Building redevelopment deal will likely mean the loss of the trail through the existing Wisconsin Avenue tunnel. If no deal is reached, that tunnel will be used for the Bethesda Purple Line station that could include a five- to seven-foot walkway for pedestrians.

The county will pay for a new, paved Capital Crescent Trail along the 16- mile light rail’s route from Bethesda to Silver Spring.

“While the Purple Line will complete a major gap in the trail, it leaves behind a new one,” Billing wrote. “We are disappointed by this loss of an tunnel option and hope that County officials exhausted all options before making this decision. We expect a safe, grade-separated crossing of the trail at Wisconsin Avenue to be the long-term solution.”

WABA has been keeping close tabs on the Capital Crescent Trail planning process part of the overall Purple Line project.

In August, the organization’s executive director put out an advocacy alert about a county change in the trail design at Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase. County Department of Transportation officials said they were going to make the trail crossing at Jones Mill Road at-grade instead of a previously discussed underpass design.

To WABA and some bicyclists, who see the trail as an important bicycle commuter route, changing the roughly 25- foot deep grade-separated underpass to a street-level crossing dependent on vehicle traffic was unsafe and would slow down trail users.

Just hours after WABA put out the Jones Mill Road alert, MCDOT said it had pulled back its request for the street-level crossing and was evaluating another underpass option.

Getting the county to reconsider a new trail tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue will be a lot more difficult to pull off.

Montgomery County would be responsible for the cost of the tunnel itself. That could’ve meant anywhere from $15-$30 million, according officials who earlier this year discussed the costs associated with the tunnel.

Building the tunnel would require the razing of the Apex Building (7272 Wisconsin Ave.). But getting the building owner to agree to redevelopment could’ve meant a county incentive package of $5 to $10 million, according to a consultant report done for the Planning Department. The amount of the incentive package proposed in closed session is unknown.

In a discussion of the issue last week, various councilmembers aid they were hopeful the county could still reach a deal to allow a more spacious Bethesda Purple Line station with a trail tunnel. But with Purple Line construction slated to start in late 2015, the clock is ticking.

“WABA is disappointed that the county has abandoned these plans. The Capital Crescent Trail is one of the most travelled multi-use trails in the county, and the Purple Line transit project is a once-in-a- lifetime investment in better trail infrastructure. Redevelopment of the Apex Building would have allowed for the best possible station and trail,” Billing wrote.

“The construction of the Purple Line will connect the Capital Crescent Trail to Silver Spring and will upgrade all trail crossings along the corrdidor, which is why WABA supported the project,” Billing continued. “The loss of a grade-separated crossing where one already exists is a significant compromise and loss. Wisconsin Avenue is the busiest road in downtown Bethesda. More than 1.3 million people use the trail annually. An at-grade crossing of this road is not an acceptable long term solution.”

WABA is looking for 1,000 people to sign its petition.

Image via Montgomery County Planning Department

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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