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Fairfax Connector to add routes from Reston to Silver Line

By WTOP Staff

Ari Ashe, wtop.com

RESTON, Va. – The Fairfax Connector plans open to 15 new bus routes in 2013 to coincide with the opening of the Metro’s Silver Line into Reston.

The new bus routes would replace the existing ones to the West Falls Church station, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. That station is a popular starting point for commuters on the Orange Line.

The transportation department held a public meeting on the Dulles Rail bus plans Thursday night at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. A similar meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11 at Lake Anne Elementary School.

After hearing from commuters, the department will refine its proposal and present a revised plan to the public in late March or early April before it is officially approved.

The plans call for the Fairfax Connector to reduce service from Reston to West Falls Church after the Silver Line opens.

“Obviously, people are going to be thrilled to have trains coming here,” says Hollen Kimmel, Reston Town Center Association’s transportation coordinator.

“We need to figure out how people are getting to the Silver Line. Will they be driving, carpooling or using the buses?”

Kimmel was pleased to hear that the Fairfax Connector would maintain the same level of service to the Reston Town Center once the Silver Line opens.

“If it can lessen my commute time to work into D.C., that would be great,” says Jagan Selvarajah, who lives in the Lake Fairfax section of Reston.

Selvarajah’s only concern is finding a Fairfax Connector bus route that runs near his home.

“It’s going to allow us to just hop on Metro and go. It’ll just be more convenient. I’m going to use the Connector more on nights and weekends,” says Bruce Wright, who lives a short distance away from the Wiehle Metro station.

However, there are concerns about the potential traffic the Silver Line will bring to Wiehle Avenue.

“It’s already a focal point for congestion in Reston because of the Dulles Toll Road and people getting on and off during rush hour,” says Terry Maynard with the Reston Citizens Association.

Several residents wondered what the point of the Fairfax Connector service was if those buses just get stuck in traffic.

A parking garage that holds 2,300 cars will be constructed at the Wiehle Metro Station, located at the end of the line until Phase 2 is completed.

“With more cars coming there to park, it’ll just make a bad traffic situation worse,” says Maynard.

Another concern is about the higher cost some face commuting to work using the Fairfax Connector and Silver Line.

“For me, it’ll probably be $4 more a day, $20 a week, $1000 a year. It adds up.” says Susan Aylward, who commutes from Reston in D.C. daily.

When asked how she would deal with the added costs, Aylward said, “I’ll just bring my lunch to work every day.”

The story is similar for Michael Grant, who also commutes to D.C. from Reston everyday.

“I pay almost $10 a day to commute into work each day. With the Metro, if I parked at the Wiehle station, it would be almost $17 a day. I am looking for some options now.”

Grant says he’s considering teleworking more to save money.

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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