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Riders upset Fairfax Connector may end Pentagon express service

By WTOP Staff

Ari Ashe, wtop.com

RESTON, Va. – Federal workers may lose a Fairfax Connector express bus service that carries hundreds each day from Reston to the Pentagon.

“Right now, it takes 35 minutes to get to work. It’s just wonderful,” says Sarah Stein of Herndon, who commutes from Reston North Park and Ride to the Pentagon each weekday.

“It’s easy. I’ve been riding the bus for eight years. I can leave my house at 7:05 and sit down at my desk at 8 a.m.,” says Mary Czernowski of Herndon.

But the Fairfax Department of Transportation is exploring whether to eliminate Fairfax Connector Routes 595 and 597 to the Pentagon and Crystal City in order to enhance service when the Silver Line opens.

“Our plan needs to be revenue-neutral, which means using the same amount of buses as our service uses today. By routing buses to Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station instead of all the way to West Falls Church Metro, we are able to reinvest those buses into enhancing existing routes,” says Fairfax County Department of Transportation spokeswoman Ellen Kamilakis.

However, in order to provide new service to the Silver Line, buses need to be pulled from other routes.

But Pentagon workers say they believe there are good reasons to keep the 595 and 597.

First, the buses are always packed. The Department of Transportation says ridership is high on the two lines.

Second, a round-trip ticket is $15, the most expensive on the Fairfax Connector.

Those fares cover the operating costs, unlike other routes that taxpayers subsidize.

The buses run every 30 minutes from 5:35 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.

“Please, please, please find a way to keep this bus going. It’s an awesome commute and the alternatives are very dreary for us,” says Paul Mulgrew of Sterling.

“It’ll suck because I already leave my home at 5 a.m. If I had to leave at 4:30 a.m., it would be ridiculous,” says Christina Miller of Reston.

“It would be pretty frustrating because my commute time would double,” says Chris Solee of Herndon.

At a recent forum on the Fairfax Connector, Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust called out officials on the plan.

“I strongly suggest that they keep the routes – figure out how to do that,” said Foust.

The current proposal isn’t the first time the 595 and 597 routes have been on the chopping block.

In 2009, the Department of Transportation tried to eliminate the routes when Fairfax County was made across-the-board budget cuts, but a deal was struck to keep the buses running.

This time, some want the Pentagon workers to choose the Silver Line instead.

But several 595 and 597 riders say they won’t do that.

“The Metro is going to be a Band-Aid. It’s not going to be equal to the service of the 595. You’re going to have to transfer at multiple stops. This takes you directly into the Pentagon and Crystal City without any delays,” says James Watson of Herndon.

“I’m not sure I would want to take the Metro. I might be looking at driving in and getting a parking pass at the Pentagon,” says Kim Markee of Herndon.

“It is not going to be faster. It’s going to be longer. What that’s going to do is force people into carpools. They’re going to put more people on the road,” says Kathy Loftin of Herndon.

“The buses are serving them, but they’re also serving all of us by keeping cars off the highway,” says Supervisor Foust.

He says he’s spoken to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and remains optimistic about reaching a deal.

Officials at the Department of Transportation emphasize no final decision has been made.

“It’s very important to us that we hear from our passengers about our Silver Line service plan. Our passengers are our partners. After the public comment period closes on Feb. 28, planners will start the delicate task of finalizing a plan that balances our resources and the needs of our passengers. We encourage our passengers to comment via email or to our Facebook and Twitter accounts,” says Kamilakis.

This story has been modified to reflect a more accurate number of daily ridership.

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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