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Trains, buses offer extra midday service

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – In light of the government shutdown, some commutes will be altered Tuesday.

MARC

MARC train schedules will be altered slightly.

Penn Line – MARC says there are no changes, but longer trains will operate starting with the 12:20 p.m. departure from Union Station.

Brunswick Line – A special midday train will run at 2 p.m. out of Union Station and will make all stops to Martinsburg, W.Va. Because of this, P875 (4:25 p.m. departure) has been canceled.

Camden Line – A special midday train will operate at 2:15 p.m. out of Union Station, making all stops to Camden. P850 (5:22 p.m. departure) will be canceled. P852 (5:53 p.m. departure) will operate. It will make flag stops at Riverdale, College Park, Greenbelt, Jessup, and St. Denis to cover the stops of P850.

MTA Commuter Bus

Some MTA Commuter bus routes will change to accommodate an anticipated volume increase during the early afternoon.

901: Trip 31 doubles. Buses will consolidate at 301 Park and Ride, with one bus going to South Potomac and La Plata. The other bus will go to Smallwood/Blue Crab. Trip 59 will not run.

902: Trip 18 doubles. Buses will consolidate at Prince Frederick, and one bus continues to St. Leonard’s. Trip 33 will not run.

903: No changes, but a special midday trip leaves from North Capitol and H Streets at 11:40 a.m. It’s scheduled to leave from Suitland Federal Center at 12:20 p.m.

905: Trip 24 will double. Buses will consolidate at Charlotte Hall, with one bus continuing to California. Trip 44 will not operate.

922: A special midday trip leaves from North Capitol and H Streets at 12:15 p.m. It will arrive at Truman Park and Ride at 1:27 p.m. and will continue to Kent Island. Trip 20 will not run.

991: Trip 20 will double, buses will consolidate at Monocracy, with one bus continuing to Myersville and Hagerstown. Trip 30 will not operate.

VRE

Virginia Railway Express will run longer trains Tuesday afternoon. VRE doesn’t have the flexibility to run the trains earlier in the day. It will have its regular schedule in effect.

Here’s what’s planned:

Fredericksburg

  • 301 (Departs Union Station at 12:55p) – 8 cars
  • 303 (Departs Union Station at 3:35p) – 7 cars
  • 305 (Departs Union Station at 4:10p) – 7 cars
  • 307 (Departs Union Station at 4:40p) – 6 cars
  • 309 (Departs Union Station at 5:15p) – 6 cars
  • 311 (Departs Union Station at 6:00p) – 5 cars
  • 313 (Departs Union Station at 6:40p) – 4 cars

Manassas

  • 325 (Departs Union Station at 1:15p) – 8 cars
  • 327 (Departs Union Station at 3:45p) – 7 cars
  • 329 (Departs Union Station at 4:25p) – 8 cars
  • 331 (Departs Union Station at 5:05p) – 8 cars
  • 333 (Departs Union Station at 5:30p) – 6 cars
  • 335 (Departs Union Station at 6:10p) – 6 cars
  • 337 (Departs Union Station at 6:50p) – 6 cars

VRE says Amtrak Cross-Honor trains are available to VRE riders with a valid multi- ride ticket (Monthly, TLC, 10-Ride, 5 Day) and an Amtrak Step-Up ticket, which can be purchased at all Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) and authorized VRE vendors.

VRE will let riders know by 6 p.m. Tuesday whether it will operate an “S” Schedule or a full schedule Wednesday.

DASH

Alexandria’s DASH bus is adjusting its schedule. Here’s what’s planned:

PENTAGON SERVICE: The DASH AT3 and AT4 will depart from the Pentagon approximately every 30 minutes with the first departure starting at 11:30 a.m.

MARK CENTER SERVICE: The DASH AT2X will depart from Mark Center Station to the King Street-Old Town Metro Station approximately every 30 minutes with the first departure starting at 11:30 a.m. DASH says departures will continue until regular afternoon peak service begins.

Fairfax Connector

Pentagon to Reston

  • Extra bus for 595, starting at 1 p.m.
  • Prior to 1 p.m., Pentagon to Reston passengers should take Metrorail to West Falls Church to 505

Pentagon to South County

  • Extra bus starting at 1 p.m.
  • Bus travels to Saratoga and Gambrill park and rides

West Falls Church

  • Extra buses starting at 1 p.m.
  • Will function as 980

Vienna

  • Extra buses starting at 1 p.m.
  • Will function as 63X routes
  • Will function as 640X routes

Metro

Metro says trains and buses will run on regular schedules. It may adjust the length of trains if the shutdown lasts several days.

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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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