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Planning Department Will Ask For Some Changes To Purple Line Design

By WTOP Staff

Proposed design for the Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station, Connecticut Avenue crossing, via Montgomery County Planning Department An example of a bridge design county planners would prefer for the Purple Line crossing of Connecticut Avenue, via Montgomery County Planning Department

The Montgomery County Planning Department can’t regulate changes to the design of the Purple Line, but it’s putting out a full court press when it comes to suggested fixes for the 16-mile light rail system.

The county Planning Board on Thursday, March 20 will hold a public hearing about comments it will send to the Maryland Transit Administration, the agency in charge of the Purple Line.

The state and federal governments will have final say when it comes to the final design of the estimated $2.37 billion project. On Thursday, the Planning Department showed off a special web page dedicated to what it will tell the MTA in a series of mandatory referrals on the light rail itself, the Capital Crescent Trail, Silver Spring Green Trail and Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance.

The page includes links to the voluminous staff reports and displays. The hearing is set for 9:10 a.m. at Park and Planning Commission headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring.)

Staff also put together an interactive map that points to parts of the Purple Line design where county planners would like to see changes.

Many comments are small in nature — planners ask the MTA to provide bicycle channels on stairway connections on the Capital Crescent Trail, to widen a planned sidewalks along East-West Highway and to build a Connecticut Avenue traction power substation into the tracks and trail to reduce visual impacts.

Some could require more wrangling.

Planning staff has been hoping the MTA would construct a 100-foot-wide underpass for a future street prescribed in the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan since planners put the sector plan together.

Staff also is asking the MTA to accommodate a stair on the north side of the trail at the planned Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station. That stair would be provided by the developer of the area.

Planners also asked that the fill retaining walls include something a little more visually stimulating than concrete:

Given the adjacency to residential and public spaces, the fill retaining walls should be designed with visual articulation. One suggestion is to provide concrete arch niches with appropriate depth to incorporate future community art. Pilasters between the niches can incorporate masonry veneer or stamped concrete forms to resemble local brick or stone materials.

The Planning Department also wants the MTA to rethink its designed bridge for the light rail over Connecticut Avenue:

If feasible, redesign the Connecticut Avenue bridge structure to reduce visual obstructions both below and above the rail/trail bed. Staff suggests a shallow arch structure (or steel girder of similar profile if required) as the basis for design. This comment is consistent and more in keeping to the design intent indicated in the Chevy Chase Lake Master Plan. A similar design should also be considered for the proposed bridge over “New Street” just east of Connecticut Avenue.

At the Bethesda Purple Line Station and South Station Entrance to the Metro, much still relies on the uncertain future of the Apex Building.

Images via Montgomery County Planning Board

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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