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Weekend Wakeup: Bay Bridge could prove biggest traffic headache

By Amy Freedman

WASHINGTON — As fall kicks into gear in the District, the weekend’s road closures are mostly due to festivals, 5Ks and celebrations. Luckily, no major construction projects are scheduled, so highways should be mostly clear.

It looks like the biggest travel headache could be at the Bay Bridge. A NASCAR race in Dover and a wine festival in Ocean City could cause delays.

If you need to cross the bridge this weekend, the MTA suggests you do so after 10 p.m. on Friday and before 7 a.m. on Saturday, and between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Bay Bridge congestion

Due to a NASCAR race in Dover and a wine festival in Ocean City, Maryland Transportation Authority officials say traffic on the Bay Bridge could be congested.

If you need to cross the bridge this weekend, the MTA suggests you do so after 10 p.m. on Friday and before 7 a.m. on Saturday, and between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Metro

No station closures this weekend on the Red, Yellow and Green lines with trains will operating at regular intervals. Blue and Orange line trains will be slightly less frequent to allow for rebuilding between Smithsonian and McPherson Square stations.

New York Avenue Bridge Project

The work continues on the New York Avenue NE bridge east of 4th Street and west of 9th Street with milling and paving from Friday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m. Only one lane will get by in each direction.

Street car construction

The continuing work will have 2nd Street NE closed on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. between G and I streets NE.

Light the Way 5k Run/Walk

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind presents its 3rd annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday at Nationals Park from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. During that time, expect road closures around the perimeter of the ballpark. The sidewalks on South Capitol Street will be used for the event but South Capitol Street will remain open to vehicular traffic.

Jammin DC-Caribbean Music and Arts Festival

Celebrating the culture of 28 Caribbean nations and territories takes place Saturday. From 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Pennsylvania Avenue NW will be closed west of 12th Street and east of 14th Street. Also, 13th Street NW will be closed south of E Street.

Barrack Row Fall Festival

This annual festival celebrates the revitalization of 8th Street SE and takes place Saturday. 8th Street SE will be closed south of E Street and north of I Street. G Street SEwill be closed east of 7th Street and west of 9th Street between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Clarendon Day Festival

The annual celebration will shut down the following streets from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28:

  • Wilson Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and N. Garfield Street.
  • Clarendon Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and No. Garfield Street.
  • No. Highland Street between N. 11th Street and N. Hartford Street

In addition to road closures, street parking will be restricted. Drivers should look out for temporary ‘No Parking’ signs. Cars will be ticketed and towed.

The annual festival will shut down Wilson Boulevard between and N. Garfield Street between Washington

Ocean City Wine Festival

This weekend on the Bay Bridge, anticipate more volume than you might expect this time of year as the wine festival can draw a crowd.

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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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