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Candidate To Race To Silver Spring On Bike To Promote Purple Line

By WTOP Staff

A House of Delegates candidate will mount a bike to race a car commuter and Metro-rider from downtown Bethesda to downtown Silver Spring.

The “Great Race,” announced by District 16 candidate Jordan Cooper on Wednesday, is meant to prove the Purple Line light rail and other transit projects are much needed to help solve Montgomery County’s traffic congestion woes.

Cooper will take a Capital Bikeshare bike from the Bethesda Metro station at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3. At the same time, his campaign manager Adam Beitman will hop on the Metro Red Line. Bill Jacobs, a member of the Montgomery Green Democrats, will get in his car and head toward Silver Spring via East-West Highway.

Cooper said he will beat Beitman and Jacobs to downtown Silver Spring by cycling to it on the Capital Crescent Trail. He claimed that would show the importance of the 16-mile light rail — which is planned to run alongside a large portion of the trail from downtown Bethesda to Silver Spring.

“Montgomery County no longer merely a bedroom community for D.C. commuters. We are now a destination. The hub and spoke Metro model is inadequate for addressing our needs,” Cooper said in a statement. “Montgomery County’s traffic situation is completely untenable. The best solution to our clogged streets is an immediate plan for completing construction of the Purple Line once and for all.”

Cooper said the Purple Line has been delayed for too long. This, even though the light rail system seems well on its way to getting done — the federal government has approved the state’s environmental plan and allowed the state to purchasing right of way along the route.

Photo via Jordan CooperOfficials hope to start construction on the $2.37 billion system in 2015 and select a private concessionaire to partner on the project later this year.

Beitman said the race isn’t just about the Purple Line. The campaign wants to promote Capital Bikeshare and the concept of transit-oriented development.

Cooper got a good review on the Action Committee for Transit’s scorecard on the local primary candidates. The group went more in-depth with Council and county executive candidates, awarding a plus rating, minus rating or no rating when it came to candidates’ views on the Purple Line, People Before Cars, Buses Before Cars, Opposes M-83 Highway and Housing Near Metro.

ACT is one of the organizers of Thursday’s Council Candidates Forum on Transportation in Silver Spring. The Coalition for Smarter Growth and other transit and environmental groups said 17 candidates are confirmed for the event, set for 7 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Place, Silver Spring).

District 1 opponents Roger Berliner and Duchy Trachtenberg will participate. So will all four incumbent at-large candidates, Democratic challenger Beth Daly and Republican challenger Robert Dyer.

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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