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Halloween means afternoon commute begins earlier

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – It’s not meant to spook you, but be aware that Halloween brings with it changes to the afternoon commute.

The commute on Halloween traditionally starts earlier in the day as parents time-shift and head home to get their children ready to trick-or-treat.

“Every mother or father will be leaving around 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon,” says WTOP Traffic Director Jim Battagliese.

Because you can’t compress everybody’s rush hour, roads get gridlocked.

Battagliese’s recommendation to commuters is to leave before 3 p.m.

“If you can leave at lunchtime, that’s the best time to leave,” he says.

If you have no plans to greet the trick-or-treaters and hand out candy or to take part in any Halloween festivities, leave after 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.

Road Closures

Drivers also need to be aware that there may be delays due to street closures in D.C.

Southbound 14th Street in Northwest will be closed between G Street and Pennsylvania Avenue through Saturday, according to the D.C. Department of Transportation. F Street Northwest will be closed between 14th and 15th streets during the same period.

Northbound access on 14th Street will be available most of the time, but southbound traffic will be shifted into northbound lanes during the evening rush on Thursday and Friday.

Curbside parking will not be permitted on F Street.

Georgetown Parking Restrictions

Georgetown is known for attracting adult ghosts and ghouls on Halloween.

Parking restrictions start at 4 p.m. Thursday and go until 6 a..m. Friday.

Drivers will find parking restrictions on the following D.C. roads:

  • K Street NW from 30th Street to Wisconsin Avenue NW
  • Water Street NW from 33rd Street to the Mouth of the Capital Crescent Trail
  • 1000 – 1300 Blocks of Wisconsin Avenue NW
  • M Street NW, from 25th Street to the Key Bridge
  • 1100 block of 26th Street NW
  • Thomas Jefferson Street – 1000 block (From the canal north to M Street)

The following streets will be closed to through traffic from 6:30 p.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. Friday:

  • 1000 block of Grace Street NW
  • 1000 block of Thomas Jefferson Street NW
  • 1000-1500 blocks of 29th Street NW
  • 1000 -1500 blocks of 30th Street NW
  • 1200-1300 blocks of Potomac Street NW
  • 1200-1500 blocks of 27th Street NW
  • 1200-1500 blocks of 28th Street NW
  • 1200-1600 blocks of 33rd Street NW
  • 1200-1700 blocks of 34th Street NW
  • 1500 32nd Street NW
  • 1600-1700 blocks of 35th Street NW
  • 2600-3100 blocks of Dumbarton Street NW
  • 2600-3100 blocks of P Street NW
  • 2600-3600 blocks of O Street NW
  • 2700-3600 blocks of N Street NW
  • 2700 block of Poplar Lane NW
  • 2700-2900 blocks of Olive Street NW
  • 3100 Block of Blues Alley
  • 3100 Block of Oak Alley NW
  • 3100 Block of South Street NW
  • 3200-3400 Q Street NW
  • 3200 Block of Cecil Place NW
  • 3200-3600 blocks of Prospect Street NW
  • 3300-3400 blocks of Dent Place NW
  • 3300 blocks of Cady’s Alley NW
  • 900 Block 30th Street NW

Only residents and employees of businesses in the area will be given access. To access the closed streets, residents will need proof of residency and employees will need work identification.

Anyone visiting the area is strongly encouraged to use public transportation to avoid parking and traffic delays.

Trick-or-treat forecast

The forecast calls for a very comfortable temperatures for trick-or-treating.

ABC7 Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff says around the time kids go out, it will be wickedly warm and ghoulishly gusty. Expect temperatures of 67, dropping down to 63, with southerly winds of 10 mph to 15 mph.

Watch for people

Driving through neighborhoods, Battagliese recommends slowing down and taking it easy because of the trick-or-treaters.

“They’re very hard to see. It very hard for them to see when they have the masks on,” he says.

For Drivers

  • Drive slowly.
  • Avoid unnecessary travel on Halloween night.
  • Use caution especially when turning, approaching intersections or when cars are parked curbside.
  • Obey all traffic signals.
  • Watch for children darting into the street.
  • Don’t drink and drive.

For trick-or-treaters

  • Always trick-or-treat with at least two friends or an adult for the entire evening.
  • Only trick-or-treat at homes that have their outside lights on.
  • Carry a bright flashlight so drivers can see you and you can see where you’re walking.
  • Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
  • Cross only at crosswalks or at street corners.
  • Never cross the street between parked cars or diagonally across an intersection.
  • Look left-right-left before crossing the street.
  • Look over your shoulder before crossing to watch for turning cars.
  • Obey all traffic signals. Never cross against a red light.
  • Walk, don’t run, whenever crossing the street.
  • Use sidewalks.
  • If no sidewalk is available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
  • Do not take rides from strangers or use shortcuts through backyards, alleys, or parks.
  • Stay in familiar neighborhoods and never cut across yards or driveways.
  • Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground and that your shoes fit well.

Source: Safe Neighborhood Day

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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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