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Weekend Wakeup: Road, rail work to slow cross-Potomac travel

By Max Smith

WASHINGTON – Motorists can expect another weekend with lane closures along Interstates 95 and 395 in Virginia but many Metro riders will also have a longer trip across the Potomac.

No Yellow Line trains will run this weekend. However a shuttle train will take riders between Huntington and Braddock Road.

Riders coming from Huntington toward the District should connect to the Blue Line at Braddock Road. Riders who would normally take the Yellow Line to Virginia from Downtown D.C. should give themselves extra travel time, and take the Blue Line toward Franconia-Springfield.

A stretch of the Green Line will also be shut down between 10 p.m. Friday and closing on Sunday. Buses will run between Archives, L’Enfant Plaza, Waterfront and Navy Yard stations.

On the Green Line, trains will run every 10 minutes between Greenbelt and Archives during daytime hours, and every 12 to 15 minutes between Branch Avenue and Navy Yard. The trains will run less often at night. L’Enfant Plaza will be open for Blue and Orange line trains only.

Orange Line trains will be running every 20 minutes all weekend because of single-tracking near Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood.

Red Line trains will run every 16 minutes this weekend because of track work between Dupont Circle and Van Ness. Extra trains will run during the day between Farragut North and Silver Spring only.

The Blue Line is scheduled to have normal weekend service.

Virginia Road Work

The I-95/395 HOV lanes will close from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

There are also a number of other lane closures along I-95 in Northern Virginia this weekend for the Express Lanes construction and most will take place from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m.

On Interstate 66, overnight construction tied to the Silver Line will close two lanes in each direction near the Dulles Connector Road. The lane closures will continue overnight during the week.

Other Silver Line-related closures will block lanes on the Dulles Toll Road, Dulles Connector Road and local roads in Tysons Corner.

Maryland Road Work

Sunday morning, the State Highway Administration says two lanes will be shut down on I-95 South at Old Gunpowder Road (just south of the Inter-County Connector). Crews will be inspecting the overpass between 5 and 11:30 a.m.

Further north on I-95 in Maryland, watch out for overnight construction Sunday night that will close two lanes in each direction at the Baltimore/Howard county line.

Overnight road work continues on the Beltway in Prince George’s County. The State Highway Administration says there will be lane closures on both the Inner and Outer loops between D’Arcy Road and Arena Drive.

Beginning Monday night, crews are scheduled to close lanes overnight on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The pavement patching project is scheduled to last into late December.

DC Road Work

Sunday afternoon, DDOT plans to close 8th Street SE between Virginia Avenue and I St SE. The closure between noon and 6 p.m. will allow contractors to work on a new ramp from 8th Street to Interstate 695.

Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th streets will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday so cranes can place a prison tower and rail car onto the site of the future Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is currently under construction.

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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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