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Va. Beltway main lanes to get travel times estimates

By WTOP Staff

Ari Ashe, wtop.com

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – A change the Virginia Department of Transportation hopes to make in the spring will give Capital Beltway drivers a better idea of whether it’s worth their time and money to take the 495 Express Lanes.

VDOT plans to post signs indicating how long the commute is from one point to another, similar the signs drivers now see along Interstate 66 in Virginia and I- 95 in Maryland.

VDOT currently can’t post travel travel times that separate how long the delays are for the main lines versus the toll lanes.

“Our travel times are derived from Inrix Traffic data. Currently, Inrix cannot separate the travel times between (main) lanes and Express Lanes, as only pylons separate the lanes,” says Hari K. Sripathi, VDOT regional operations director.

“Therefore, travel times we get are an average or a combination of the two which is a skewed result.”

Posting the combined travel times wouldn’t make sense because it wouldn’t provide actionable information to drivers, VDOT says.

However, VDOT and Inrix Traffic are working together to solve the problem.

“In the next few months, when we receive accurate data from Inrix, we will try to post the travel times for the (main) lanes. The location of the signs are not optimal, but we will do our best,” says Sripathi.

Some drivers say they’re hesitant to use the new Express Lanes, which charge tolls based how much congestion there is.

Gabe Goldberg of Falls Church is a driver who says having the additional information would help him decide whether to hop in the Express Lanes.

“The problem is that I cannot tell what the toll lanes will do for me until I’ve already committed,” Goldberg says.

“I have seen signs on I-66 and I-95 that’ll say to some landmark, ’16 miles, 23 minutes.’ If I had cues like that, I would be able to tell the Beltway is congested and I need to pay the toll, or the Beltway is moving rapidly and I don’t.”

“So far, I haven’t felt like taking a risk of driving on the toll lanes when the Beltway was moving at highway speed. But if they put up more information, that would change things,” says Goldberg.

The number of people using the 495 Express Lanes is lower than the operator Transurban projected.

Since opening two months ago, Transurban reports an average of 18,594 vehicles use the lanes every day. During the first six weeks, the average jumped to 23,308 Monday through Friday.

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(Copyright 2013 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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