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Metro closes stations weekend before Thanksgiving

By WTOP Staff

Adam Tuss, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — The busy Thanksgiving travel period officially kicks off this weekend. So why is Metro shutting down the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station for the weekend?

From 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the Crystal City, Reagan National and Braddock Road Stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines will close for major repairs.

Metro says it needs to put the closures in place to install new rail ties, insulators, upgrade the surfaces underneath the rails and install communications cables for improved cell phone service.

Despite lots of people starting their trips to and from town, Metro says the weekend before Thanksgiving is “historically not an especially busy weekend for Metrorail ridership at Reagan National.”

If you do want to take Metro to Reagan National Airport this weekend, you’ll have to ride a shuttle bus.

Metro says it will operate these four shuttle bus routes over the weekend:

  • Downtown Express: Non-stop service between Metro Center (12th & G streets) and Reagan National Airport
  • Airport Route 1: King Street – Reagan National Airport
  • Airport Route 2: Pentagon City – Crystal City – Reagan National Airport
  • Local Route: Pentagon City – Crystal City – Braddock Road – King Street (Note: The local route will not stop at the airport.)

Metro does say rail service at the airport will operate normally with no scheduled track work beginning Monday, Nov. 21, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 27.

In addition to the closures around Reagan National, Metro also has a full compliment of track work planned this weekend that will require single tracking.

Here is the schedule according to Metro:

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, through closing Sunday, Nov. 20

  • Red Line trains will share one track between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square stations to allow for utility line stabilization at Farragut North station and installation of new emergency phones.
  • On Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Red Line trains will depart every 10 minutes from Shady Grove and Glenmont stations. Every other train from Shady Grove station will terminate at Dupont Circle. Every other train from Glenmont will terminate at Union Station.
  • At all other times during the weekend, Red Line trains will depart approximately every 20 minutes from Shady Grove and Glenmont stations.
  • Trains operating through the work zone between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square will operate every 20 minutes in each direction.
  • The last train departing Glenmont station will leave 11 minutes earlier than usual — at 2:26 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday.
  • Customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time and expect crowding conditions.

Blue Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 through closing on Sunday, Nov. 20

  • Blue Line trains will share one track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations as personnel make repairs to the floating slabs underneath the rails to provide a smoother ride.
  • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 through closing on Sunday, Nov. 20:

  • Orange Line trains will share one track between Ballston and East Falls Church stations while personnel install new track.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will depart endpoint terminals approximately every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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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