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Higher parking rates debated for Georgetown, Adams Morgan

By WTOP Staff

Ari Ashe, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – New parking rates could come to several popular destinations, including Georgetown and Adams Morgan, in late 2013 or early 2014, according to the D.C. Department of Transportation.

The agency is exploring whether to add performance parking to 12 locations, including the popular night spots.

Performance parking refers to a system where costs can be raised during peak demand periods.

For example, outside Nationals Park, street parking on game days begins at $2 for the first hour, then it jumps to $8 for the second and third hours.

The program also is in effect in Columbia Heights and H Street NE, although the prices are lower than outside Nationals Park.

“The idea is that we want to encourage a lot of turnover. Make each space usable by as many people as possible,” says Angelo Rao, parking manager for the District Department of Transportation.

“On a block of 20 spaces, you want three or four spaces available at one time, so that people don’t circle over and over again to find a space.”

Rao says the goal is to make sure 15 percent of all spots are free and available at any time, especially at busy downtown hangouts on the weekend.

DDOT met with Georgetown residents at a parking forum last month, and the agency plans to hold more meetings in March.

“If we can get the hard data about how people use parking spots in Georgetown, good sound criteria on how to use the sites, and get good feedback from the residential and business community, then it’s feasible it’ll be a candidate for performance parking in 2013,” says Rao.

However, not everyone likes the idea.

“The city is poised to generate, garner and glean even more money from hapless motorists from parking meters and from the parking fines it netted in 2011 ($92.6 million), if performance parking is expanded in the city through the installation of market-rate meters,” says John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s manager of public and government affairs.

“Performance based parking is about plucking millions of dollars in additional parking revenue from drivers cursing and cruising the block in the nation’s capital, without D.C. ever solving the problem of the dearth of on-street or curbside parking.”

People walking along M Street in Georgetown on a recent Saturday night, where performance parking would go, agree that it’s a troubling idea.

“I drive a lot in the city, I live in the city, so I know the different parking rates and it does make it less appealing to come to Georgetown,” says resident Claire McAndrew.

“For me, when I hear higher prices for any reason, I’m going to stay away from there,” says Jamal Gray of Prince George’s County.

“It seems like a scam, but people are going to pay it anyway. They see it won’t affect the demand, so why not up the prices and increase the revenue,” says Jason Berto, who works at a Georgetown shop on M Street.

And while Rao admits it will generate extra revenue for DDOT, he argues the money will be put back to good use.

“The vast majority of parking meter revenue goes to WMATA (Metro) as a subsidy. With performance parking, 50 percent of the money goes to surface transportation of the WMATA system in the District. The other 50 percent goes to the neighborhood and business community, working with DDOT to decide on how to use the money,” says Rao.

A spokesman for Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans tells WTOP that he’s “very interested in parking matters in Georgetown and will carefully looking at any sort of proposal that DDOT has in that regard.”

Follow @AriAsheWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

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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