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Virginia reaches agreement for I-95 HOT lanes

By WTOP Staff

Hank Silverberg, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – After years of discussions, lawsuits and redesigns, the High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes for I-95 in Virginia appear to be a done deal.

The state has reached a tentative agreement with private Australian company Fluor-Transurban to begin constructing the HOT lanes in the spring of 2012, with completion slotted for 2015.

The project will expand the current High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to create 29 miles of toll road between Edsall Road in Fairfax County and Garrisonville Road in Stafford County. The current HOV lanes end in Dumfries in Prince William County.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton says Transurban is taking all the risk in the $940 million project, particularly if traffic volume in the toll lanes does not meet projections.

“The tolls will be variable based on the traffic conditions,” Connaughton says. “If it hits certain thresholds, we do revenue sharing between the state and Fluor-Transurban.”

If the HOT lanes are profitable, the state’s revenue share could be between 5 percent and 40 percent, depending on volume. The contract with Fluor-Transurban is for 73 years.

Cars with three people will still travel for free. Cars with less than three will pay a toll using E-ZPass, but there will be no toll booths.

The new toll portion will have three lanes instead of the current two in the HOV system, along with numerous entrances and exits along the 29 miles. Tolls will be based on distance traveled, volume and time of day — making them hard to predict on any given trip.

The HOT lanes will not go all the way to D.C. because of a dispute with Arlington County. But they will connect directly in Springfield with the HOT lanes currently under construction on I-495. The current HOV system would stay in place between Edsall Road and the 14th Street Bridge on I-395.

Virginia also plans to spend $200 million on as many as 46 new bus routes in Spotsylvania, Stafford, Prince William and Fairfax counties. There additionally are expected to be as many as 9,500 new park-and-ride parking spaces along the highway that Connaughton says will be phased in as needed.

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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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