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Weekend Wakeup: Traffic and delays for Memorial Day

By WTOP Staff

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The good news for holiday travelers is that the Virginia Department of Transportation will suspend all construction lane closures from noon Friday until noon Tuesday, May 29.

If you’re planning on traveling for the holiday weekend, prepare for delays and always have a backup plan if you get stuck in traffic.

For those of us who are staying home, there will be plenty of Memorial Day events, some race events and the Sunset Celebration at the Mount Vernon Estate.

Don’t forget that Metro track work will continue through the weekend, so be sure to check the work summary if you’re planning on riding the train to get to any of the Memorial Day events.

Rolling Thunder 2012

The annual Rolling Thunder event will bring the familiar caravan of motorcyclists to our area. Each year, thousands of bikers participate in the rally that promotes awareness of veterans and soldiers missing in action.

Here is a summary of major events and closures planned for this weekend:

Friday:

  • The Rolling Thunder group will depart the Molly Pitcher rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike at 9 a.m.
  • The group is scheduled to be at the Maryland House rest stop by 1 p.m.
  • Arrival at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City by 3 p.m.
  • There will be a candlelight vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 9 p.m.

Saturday:

  • Rolling Thunder wreath presentation will take place at the U.S. Navy Memorial at 11 a.m.
  • Tribute to Rolling Thunder starts at 11:45 a.m. at Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue NW and will feature several speakers and musical groups, including Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

Sunday:

  • In Arlington, Washington Boulevard will be closed near the Pentagon from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a special Rolling Thunder program.
  • The Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle will be closed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Events at Arlington National Cemetery

There will be several events at Arlington National Cemetery throughout the weekend, including the Run for the Wall motorcycle group gathering, a free showing of the independent film “The Fence,” wreath ceremonies and a Memorial Day observance.

National Memorial Day Concert

The National Memorial Day Concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday at the U.S. Capitol. This year’s performers and speakers include Gary Sinise, Colin Powell, Natalie Cole, Trace Adkins, Jessica Sanchez and more.

Memorial Day Parade

The National Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. The parade will start on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street NW, and end at Constitution Avenue and 17th Street NW.

Hometown Holidays in Rockville

Rockville presents its annual three-day celebration, featuring music, food and children’s activities. Hometown Holidays concludes with a Memorial Day Parade at Rockville Town Square Plaza.

Metro track work

Metro will continue efforts to rebuild the rail system throughout the holiday weekend. All work will begin Friday at 10 p.m., and will continue through system closing on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

Green Line:

  • Buses will replace Green Line trains between Greenbelt and Fort Totten.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only.
  • Customers traveling to and from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip. Green Line trains will operate normally between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue.

Red Line:

  • Trains will single track between Forest Glen and Takoma.
  • Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Glenmont and Shady Grove throughout the weekend.
  • Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time.
  • Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and New York Avenue stations, providing service every 10 minutes.

Monday Metro Service

Metrorail:

  • The system will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. Trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. Customers are advised of scheduled track work on the Green and Red lines. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day, and parking is free at all Metrorail parking facilities.

Metrobus:

  • Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule.

MetroAccess:

  • All subscription trips will be canceled on Monday. Customers wishing to travel on the holiday should make a separate reservation.

Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon

The annual Sunset Celebration runs Friday through Sunday at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. Visitors to the ticketed event will enjoy wine, desserts, tours and 18th-century music.

Save the Trail! 5k

Saturday at 9 a.m., runners will gather at Elm Street Park in Chevy Chase for the Save the Trail! 5k, which will feature various prizes for runners. The top three runners receive cash.

Alexandria Running Festival

The Alexandria Running Festival will feature a half-marathon, a 5K and a kid’s 1K run. The races kick off at 7:30 a.m.

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(Copyright 2012 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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