Skip to main content

Presidents Day: Metro track work, road changes

By WTOP Staff

Dave Dildine, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Presidents Day brings a long holiday weekend, ushered in by the first unofficial getaway of 2013. And so, traffic along the Interstate 95 corridor may seem busier than usual through Monday – with perhaps just as many out-of-state license plates as local plates.

Many people will be traveling home after venturing west to the mountain ski resorts in search of champagne and fresh powder. Couples looking to celebrate a late Valentine’s Day may head inbound for an evening on the town.

Delays may congest the region at strange times through the long weekend. These delays are difficult to predict in advance so tune into WTOP on the 8s for up-to- the-minute traffic coverage before you hit the road. The good news is this weekend’s road work docket is light.

Metro

On Metro, however, riders should expect delays on parts of the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines. WMATA plans to take advantage of lower ridership during the holiday, extending the hours of track work through late Monday. Most of the work will last through closing on Monday night.

Orange Line

  • Free shuttle buses replace trains between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly.
  • Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood stations will be closed.
  • Buses will make stops at all stations.
  • Customers who travel through the work zone should add about 30 minutes to their total travel time.
  • Trains will run at 15 minute intervals outside the work area.

Blue Line

  • Free shuttle buses replace trains between Stadium-Armory and Largo Town Center.
  • Benning Road, Capitol Heights, Addison Road, Morgan Boulevard and Largo Town Center stations will be closed.
  • Express buses will operate between Stadium-Armory, Addison Road and Largo Town Center.
  • Local buses will make stops at all closed stations.
  • Delays up to 35 minutes are possible for riders on express buses and up to 50 minutes on local buses.

Red Line

  • Trains will single track between Rhode Island Avenue and Takoma Park.
  • Delays up to 15 minutes are possible.

Green Line

  • Free shuttle buses replace trains between Greenbelt and College Park.
  • Customers who travel through the work zone should add up to 15 minutes to their total travel time.
  • Work occurs only on Saturday.

Holiday road changes

In Virginia, HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-95, I-395, I-66 and Route 267. Maryland HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-270 but will remain in effect for the fast lane on U.S. 50 this holiday weekend.

In Washington, the reversible roads including Rock Creek Parkway, Canal Road and Clara Barton Parkway will remain two-way all day long. Center lane reversals will not occur on 16th Street NW and Connecticut Avenue. Refer to the curbside illuminated signs for guidance. Rush hour parking rules will not be enforced. Parking restrictions in residential zones and in metered spots will not be enforced.

Mass transit changes on Presidents Day

  • Metrorail will operate on a Saturday schedule. Trains will run between 5 a.m. and midnight, however, work zones are scheduled along the Red, Orange and Blue lines.
  • Metro buses will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. More information about route changes can be found here.
  • MetroAccess service will follow a normal scheduled but subscription trips will be canceled.
  • MARC and VRE trains will not operate on Presidents Day.

Downtown holiday events may cause brief delays

In Old Town Alexandria, the George Washington Birthday Parade will kick off at Wilkes Street and march up Fairfax Street around 1 p.m. The parade will then about-face and head south on Royal Street. Look for crowds, police direction and delays near the parade route. The parade’s companion 1-mile race was canceled this year but the 10K and 2K Fun Run will still take place.

Ford’s Theatre will host a variety of events including a short play about the life and assassination of President Lincoln.

Follow @WTOPtraffic 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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote