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Weekend feature Beltway backups and Race for the Cure

By WTOP Staff

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – This weekend is sure to include delays for many travelers, with a big paving project on the Capital Beltway near the Wilson Bridge and track work on every Metro line. The Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure is scheduled for Saturday, and there will be some great festivals.

Beltway construction to cause delays

A major repaving project has begun on the Beltway Inner Loop near the Wilson Bridge in Virginia. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The THRU lanes will be reduced to one lane between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Telegraph Road.
  • All access to the Inner Loop/Interstate-95/495 South THRU lanes from Maryland and from U.S. Route 1 in Virginia will be closed, starting at 8 p.m. Friday.
  • The work will last until 5 a.m. Monday.
  • Because the backups are expected well into Maryland, drivers are urged to find alternate routes all weekend.
  • In Alexandria, the Inner Loop LOCAL exits to Pershing Avenue and Telegraph Road North will be closed. Drivers on the LOCAL lanes headed to the Eisenhower Valley should exit at the Eisenhower Connector and return on Eisenhower Avenue East.
  • Officials say that once the work is done Monday, two new Inner Loop THRU lanes will be completed. Paving will then shift to the Inner Loop LOCAL lanes.
  • From June 4 to July 1, just one Inner Loop LOCAL lane will be open.

Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure

Metro will open early at 5 a.m. Saturday for the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, which will step off near the Washington Monument. The opening ceremony begins at 7:40 a.m.

There will be several street closures associated with the event:

  • Constitution Avenue between 23rd and 3rd Streets
  • 21st Street between Constitution Avenue and Virginia Avenue
  • Virginia Avenue between 21st Street and Constitution Avenue
  • 14th Street between Constitution Avenue and Jefferson Drive
  • 15th Street between Constitution Avenue and Jefferson Drive
  • Jefferson Drive between 15th and 3rd Streets
  • Independence between 15th and 3rd Streets
  • Many other street closures should be expected around the race route, between the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

I-395 overnight closure

Weather permitting, northbound Interstate 95 in Virginia will not have direct access to NB I-395 overnight Friday. All traffic will be diverted to the Inner Loop of the Beltway between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Metro track work

Metro continues their massive rebuilding effort this weekend, with work starting at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing Sunday. Here’s the summary from WMATA:

Orange Line:

  • Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church while crews perform tests on the rail line.
  • Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: Between Vienna and West Falls Church at regular weekend intervals, and East Falls Church and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals.
  • Expect delays of at least 20 minutes.

Blue Line:

  • Trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road.
  • More single tracking between Van Dorn Street and Braddock Road.
  • Blue Line trains will depart Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield every 20 minutes.

Red Line:

  • Trains will single track between Forest Glen and Takoma.
  • More single tracking between Van Ness and Friendship Heights.
  • Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend.
  • Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core.

Green Line

  • Green Line trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt.
  • Trains will operate at normal weekend intervals. Every other train will begin/end service at College Park, rather than Greenbelt.
  • Delays of at least 15 minutes are expected.

Yellow Line

  • Trains will single track between Braddock Road and Huntington.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square throughout the weekend.
  • Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.

D.C. Jazz Festival

The D.C. Jazz Festival kicks off Friday and continues through June 10. This year’s festival will take place with more than 100 performances in dozens of venues in the District.

Capital Pride 2012

The Capital Pride Festival and parade take place next week, but the celebration of the LGBT community officially kicks off this weekend with party events and performances from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington at Lisner Auditorium.

Taste of Georgetown

Thirty restaurants will participate in this year’s Taste of Georgetown between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday

In addition to nearly 60 food samples and wine pairings, there will be live music. The festival will benefit Georgetown Ministry Center’s efforts to support the homeless.

Washington Folk Festival

The Washington Folk Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Glen Echo Park, and will feature traditional musicians, storytellers, dancers, and craftspeople from the Washington, D.C. area.

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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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