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Glendening, White Flint Advocates Show Room For Pedestrian Improvements

By WTOP Staff

From left to right: Councilmember Roger Berliner, Friends of White Flint Executive Director Lindsay Hoffman during a walking tour on Saturday The much talked about stretch of Old Georgetown Road as it heads toward Rockville Pike near the Pike & Rose development Former Gov. Parris Glendening, now a smart growth advocate, talks during Saturday's walk around White Flint Pedestrians cross the street near the Pike & Rose development in White Flint/North Bethesda A sign directing pedestrians in White Flint/North Bethesda A dirt path near the White Flint Metro shows where pedestrians choose to walk, despite no sidewalk Pedestrians crossing Rockville Pike near the White Flint Metro entrance

Add a former governor to the group calling for a more pedestrian-friendly road network in White Flint.

Former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, now the president of a national smart growth advocacy group, joined the Friends of White Flint and Councilmember Roger Berliner on Saturday for a walking tour of the White Flint/North Bethesda area.

Friends of White Flint Executive Director Lindsay Hoffman, Glendening and Berliner pointed out spots along Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike where they felt pedestrian improvements were needed to accommodate the mixed-use redevelopment planned for the area.

Glendening echoed the concerns of residents and smart growth advocates over the design of a small stretch of Old Georgetown Road. Concerns over ongoing design work for the road by Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation set off weeks of back-and-forth between residents, Berliner and county officials.

“If we don’t do this right, it’s going to be hard to do the whole thing right,” Glendening said, while standing on the corner of Old Georgetown Road and the recently build Grand Park Avenue. “The key is to get that start in the right direction.”

He also pointed out utility poles installed in the middle of sidewalks and spoke about the need for more walkable communities on a broader scale.

“This is about even more than this immediate area,” Glendening said. “We have 91 million millennials coming on-line and they much prefer this style of walkable living. Are we going to plan for that or are people going to continue to move farther and farther out?”

About 40 people took part in the walk.

Hoffman, who first criticized MCDOT for its plans for the section of Old Georgetown Road, said the county is working with her group and others to find ways for bike lanes, more accessible sidewalks and smaller lane widths.

Ramona Bell-Pearson, an assistant chief administrative officer who’s been working on White Flint issues, also came along on the walk and again emphasized that the fate of Old Georgetown Road rests largely with the State Highway Administration that has jurisdiction.

Many of the questions from participants on the walk focused on how the county can balance pedestrian and bicyclist needs with the need to move vehicle traffic, especially now that most of the area’s strip shopping centers are planned to be redeveloped with more density.

Glendening pointed to the high-speed “slip lanes” at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road as an example of how the balance is at least for now in favor of vehicle traffic.

The slip lanes allow drivers turning onto Old Georgetown Road or southbound Rockville Pike to veer without having to stop at the traffic light, though pedestrians technically have right of way to cross.

“That approach emphasizes that the car has the right of way,” Glendening said.

Glendening’s message wasn’t all critical, though. He praised County Executive Isiah Leggett, Berliner and Montgomery County in general for the overall vision of the 2010 White Flint Sector Plan, calling it a national model for smart growth initiatives.

The walking tour ended at the tree-lined corner of Marinelli Road Executive Boulevard, which provided a much calmer environment than the curb cuts and constant traffic along Rockville Pike.

Hoffman, who will be stepping down from her Friends of White Flint position to become a Council staff member, said the goal is to eventually make all of White Flint look and feel the same way.

“It’s not just about all of the little things we talked about today. If you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to get out of your car,” Hoffman told the group. “It’s a matter of what you feel.”

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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