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I-270 to I-95 takes 20 min. on ICC

By WTOP Staff

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Giddy drivers honked as they drove on the newly opened InterCounty Connector Tuesday morning.

The commute from Interstate 270 to Interstate 95 — essentially from Gaithersburg to Laurel — will take you 20 minutes now that the ICC is open.

WTOP’s Kristi King drove the stretch Tuesday morning, the first morning the toll road is fully open. Going the posted 55 mph speed limit, she clocked the Montgomery County to Prince George’s County trip at well under a half hour.

Without the ICC, getting from Gaithersburg to Laurel took 47 minutes.

The 17.9-mile stretch — Maryland’s first all-electronic toll road — opened to traffic at midnight, well before its scheduled 6 a.m. opening.

Traffic was intermittent in the early morning hours, but by 5 a.m. the flow of vehicles had picked up to a steady stream. But that stream was still not heavy enough to slow down traffic.

Through Dec. 4, you’ll be able to travel the ICC without paying tolls.

The toll you pay will depend on what time of day you use the ICC.

After that, E-ZPass will be required. Drivers who do not use E-ZPass will receive a bill by mail for 150 percent of the original toll.

E-ZPass centers are open in Beltsville and Gaithersburg at the Motor Vehicle Adminstration. The Beltsville location is at 11760 Baltimore Ave., and the Gaithersburg location is at 15 Metropolitan Grove Rd. Both are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It costs $46 to open an E-ZPass account — $25 in pre-paid tolls and $21 for the transponder. There’s a $1.50 service charge applied monthly to all E-ZPass accounts for account-maintenance services.

As of Nov. 1, the $1.50 fee is waived for accounts used to pay three or more tolls in the previous month in Maryland – including on the ICC.

You also can buy an E-ZPass online at www.ezpassmd.com or call 1-888-321-6824 with your questions.

The Maryland State Highway Administration has a warning for drivers using local roads near ICC interchanges. There’s the potential traffic could be heavier than usual near those interchanges as drivers try out the road during the free two-week test period.

The final segment of the ICC that will connect U.S. 1 and I-270 could still be years away. The goal for that ribbon cutting is the spring of 2014.

WTOP Traffic will keep you up-to-date every 10 minutes on the 8s on 103.5 FM and you can follow WTOP Traffic and WTOP on Twitter. WTOP’s Custom Commute cameras also can help you navigate your commute.

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report. Follow Kristi and WTOP on Twitter.

(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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