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Veterans Day road closures and Metro changes

By Max Smith

WASHINGTON — Veterans Day weekend means an early getaway for some federal workers trying to get a jump on the long weekend, but it does not mean a reprieve from traffic and transit issues, as Metro shuts down Red Line stations for three days.

Expect motorcades and large crowds around the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and other memorials this weekend for Veterans Day ceremonies.

The official wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the Memorial Amphitheater.

Roads in downtown Manassas will be closed Saturday morning for the Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m.

On Sunday, the Town of La Plata holds a “Salute to Veterans” parade. It begins at 1 p.m at the courthouse on Charles Street.

On Monday, some streets will be closed around the Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park for a Veterans Day commemoration at 10:15 a.m. organized by the Fredericksburg Area Veterans Council and WarFighters Motorcycle Club.

With numerous events across the area, expect loud flyovers from military aircraft over the entire three-day weekend.

Sunday morning, the Veterans Day 10K & Fun Walk in D.C. will close Ohio Drive from just south of the Lincoln Memorial and Independence Avenue down past Hains Point. Drivers should still be able to access the East Potomac Tennis Center and the golf course via Maine Avenue or the 14th Street Bridge.

Metro

Metro will shut down part of the Red Line this weekend for track work, while the Blue, Orange and Yellow lines operate with reduced service. From 10 p.m. Friday through close of business Monday, buses replace trains between Shady Grove and White Flint. Shady Grove, Rockville and Twinbrook stations are closed.

Trains will run every 20 minutes — including Monday — on the Blue, Orange and Yellow lines. Yellow Line trains will only run between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square. There will be some additional Orange Line trains during rush hour on Monday.

With fewer trains, visitors to the National Mall who are able to may want to consider walking over to Arlington Cemetery from the Lincoln Memorial or Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Lane Closures

The I-95/395 HOV lanes in Virginia will be closed from Friday night until 2 p.m. Sunday.

Two lanes will be closed in each direction on I-95 between the Prince William Parkway and the Beltway from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m Saturday. Expect other lane closures overnight on 95, 395 and other roads tied to the 95 Express Lanes construction project.

Drivers on I-66 will again face overnight lane closures near the Dulles Connector Road. Two lanes will be closed in each direction beginning at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Some of the closures may not be lifted until 9 a.m. the next morning. There will be other lane closures tied to Silver Line construction, but they should have less of an impact. The overnight closures will continue all next week.

For drivers headed to BWI Airport, there will be a detour this weekend on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway northbound. Maryland’s State Highway Administration says the ramp to eastbound I-195 will be closed from 5 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday.

In Montgomery County, expect lane closures on New Hampshire Avenue at Sligo Creek Parkway. The closures are overnight on weekends from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and during the day on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In Prince George’s County, there are overnight lane closures on the Outer Loop between D’Arcy Road and Arena Drive.

In Frederick, Md., South Street will be closed between the ramp to eastbound I-70 and Monocacy Boulevard during the day on Saturday and Sunday. The SHA says the closure between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. will allow crews to paint the new bridges there. As a detour, drivers going southbound on South Street will use MD-85 to access I- 70 east, then take Exit 55 for South Street. Drivers heading northbound on South Street can use eastbound I-70 to Exit 56, then take MD-144 west to get back to Monocacy Boulevard.

Road work near Washington Circle will close part of the service road on K Street NW between 24th Streer and New Hampshire Avenue all weekend. It should not create major traffic issues, but could briefly slow drivers down on the way into Washington Circle.

Basketball tip-off

George Washington University men’s basketball tips off its regular season Friday night. A tailgate party will close 22nd Street NW between F Street and G Street until about 9 p.m.

Veterans Day

Federal government offices and some public schools are closed Monday for Veterans Day.

HOV restrictions will not be in effect in Virginia or on I-270 in Maryland due to the federal holiday.

In D.C., reversible roads like Rock Creek Parkway and Connecticut Avenue will not switch into rush hour mode. The reversible lanes will operate like it is a weekend.

Metro weekend track work continues Monday, with buses replacing trains on the Red Line between Shady Grove and White Flint. Riders may want to consider using stations at the other end of the Red Line to reach downtown D.C. instead. The rail system will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight Monday like a normal weekday, but trains will operate at Saturday intervals. With track work, that means every 20 minutes on the Blue, Orange and Yellow lines. There will be additional trains between Vienna and Stadium-Armory during rush hour.

Parking at Metro-owned lots and garages is free on Monday. All rail fares will be off-peak.

Metro buses will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. MetroAccess will operate on a regular schedule, but subscription trips will be cancelled.

There will be no MARC or VRE service Monday. VRE says there were not enough riders on Columbus Day to justify operations on so-called “soft” holidays when federal workers are off, but many private sector workers still have to go to the office.

Most Maryland commuter buses will not operate. Only Commuter Bus Route 201 will run on a weekend/holiday schedule.

In Montgomery County, RideOn buses will operate on a special modified holiday schedule. There is service on every route, but with fewer trips over the course of the day.

In Prince George’s County, The Bus will operate normal weekday service, except for Routes 51, 51-Extended and 52 which serve county government buildings. Those routes will not run. The county para-transit service Call-A-Bus will not operate Monday.

In Arlington, ART buses will run a Saturday schedule on Routes 41, 42, 51, 77 and 87. No other ART routes will operate. STAR is closed, and all standing order rides are cancelled.

In Alexandria, DASH buses will run on a normal weekday schedule.

In Baltimore, MTA local buses, the Metro subway and the Light Rail will run regular weekday service.

All DC Department of Parks and Recreation aquatic facilities and rec centers are closed. All Arlington Community Centers are closed except for Arlington Mill (open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Alexandria libraries and recreation centers are open on a regular schedule. Montgomery County libraries and senior centers are closed, but aquatic and community centers are open.

Veterans Day Parking

In D.C., parking meters, residential parking and rush hour lane restrictions will not be enforced.

Parking meters and permit parking will not be enforced Monday in Arlington or Alexandria.

Parking at public garages, lots and curbside meters is also free Monday in Montgomery County.

All parking decks and metered parking will be free Monday in Frederick, Md.

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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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