Skip to main content

Berliner, Ervin Raise Concerns About Columbia Country Club Agreement

By WTOP Staff

Proposed Purple Line alignment from Bethesda Station (far left) through the Town of Chevy Chase to the Columbia Country Club, via MTA

An agreement to move the Purple Line 12 feet to save a few golf course holes has caused a bit of a stir in Rockville.

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the Maryland Transit Administration, Montgomery County and Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase reached an agreement to move the planned light rail a dozen feet to the north for its 1,700 foot-length through the golf course.

It is no doubt a minor adjustment.

But the Post and others raised concerns that the country club (an opponent of the Purple Line from the beginning) got treatment that homeowners and businesses affected by the 16-mile light rail aren’t going to get. The Post also pointed to the secretive nature of the deal, agreed upon in June, that stops the country club from filing lawsuits against the state and requires both sides not comment on the matter.

On Monday, the two County councilmembers who represent Bethesda and Silver Spring wrote a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett voicing their concerns. Councilmembers Roger Berliner (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and Valerie Ervin (Silver Spring) wrote that while they recognize the adjustment “does serve the public interest,” they haven’t had the same success with the MTA when it came to mitigating the Purple Line in other areas:

Dear County Executive Leggett,

Last week the public learned that our County and the State entered into a confidential settlement in June of this year with the Columbia Country Club regarding the precise route of the Purple Line and certain treatments that will occur on its property. We regret that as Chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee/District 1 and District 5 Councilmembers, respectively, neither we nor our offices were advised of this settlement prior to press inquiries we received last week.

More broadly, the settlement has raised concerns in the larger community about “preferential treatment” being given to influential and powerful private clubs. Let us make clear that we believe this settlement does serve the public interest. However, we have been working for many years to mitigate the impact of the Purple Line on many communities that will be impacted along the alignment. While our offices have had some success in certain discrete areas, we have not always been able to convince the state to adjust its plans to accommodate community concerns.

We believe it is important for you to state unequivocally that the full weight of the County, and your office in particular, stands ready to assist communities along the full length of the Purple Line alignment to minimize adverse impacts. While the threat of litigation that had been raised by Columbia County Club posed a serious threat to the Purple Line, litigation threats themselves should not serve to distinguish which interests are taken seriously by our County. All of our residential communities need our mitigation assistance. We know that you share that view, and we look forward to working in partnership with you on behalf of the communities we represent.

Leggett and Councilmembers Hans Riemer and George Leventhal said the 12-foot adjustment is not preferential treatment.

The Town of Chevy Chase, another opponent of the Purple Line, got the MTA to agree to install four-foot high sound walls to mitigate noise from the trains. The Purple Line will run along the existing Georgetown Branch Trail, right behind a number of Chevy Chase backyards.

In subsequent meetings and a Final Environmental Impact Statement, MTA officials have promised to expand that sound wall to all areas between Bethesda and Rock Creek Stream Valley Park. It is the only section of the 16-mile system where that mitigation is planned.

The Town of Chevy Chase also wants an at-grade crossing of the system at Lynn Drive. The MTA offered to build a crossing tunnel that would require the light rail tracks to be raised a few feet. The Town of Chevy Chase has rejected that proposal and hired a legal consultant to formulate a response to the FEIS.

The agreement will also give Columbia Country Club two golf-cart underpasses and county-owned land where the golf course already exists, according to the Post.

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