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D.C.’s Union Station featured at national rail summit

By WTOP Staff

Amtrak’s ambitious plan to turn D.C.’s Union Station into a world-class transportation hub captured the national spotlight Monday afternoon during a three-day conference on high-speed rail prospects.

Amtrak representatives and developer Arkidge highlighted their plans to build new tracks, shops, homes and office space at the Northeast D.C. transit station during the U.S. High Speed Rail Association’s conference that began Monday.

The local project was just part of the event’s lineup, which featured a range of speakers including outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., founder and co-chair of the Bicameral Bipartisan Congressional High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus.

Amtrak plans to spend $7 billion to add platforms, tracks and retail space at the historic train station. The project will lay the groundwork to tie Union Station into a high-speed rail network along the Northeast corridor and allow Akridge to build 3 million square feet of mixed-use space above the tracks slated to cost $1.3 billion.

“We need one another, and there’s nothing like absolute necessity to create good partners,” said Akridge project manager David Tuchmann. “We’re trying to create something we can all be proud of, both from a commercial standpoint but also from a civic responsibility standpoint.”

Amtrak revealed its master plan for Union Station, along with the company’s companion Burnham Place project, in July. Amtrak and Akridge are still working through the details and financing, but both agreed Monday that upgrading Union Station’s capacity, and developing the mixed-use project above it, will take significant collaboration.

Several other organizations are involved in the process, including the Union Station Redevelopment Corp. and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Amtrak’s Stephen Gardner, who moderated the panel discussion, said the current Union Station is operating well beyond capacity. The improvements, which include several new platforms beneath the existing tracks, are designed to handle three times as many passengers as now come through the station.

Planned upgrades also would provide up to nine new tracks, widen the current platforms from 16 to about 22 feet and increase the number of station entrances from three to nine.

D.C. Planning Director Harriett Tregoning said she expects an upgraded Union Station will have the same kind of transformative effect on the area as the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station had on NoMa when it was added a decade ago and as the District’s planned streetcar line is having on the H Street corridor. That line will also connect to Union Station, she said.

“This project is not really about transportation, it’s about economic development,” Tregoning said. “I can’t imagine a project that is a better fit.”

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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