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Lynn Drive Crossing Left Up To Town Of Chevy Chase

By WTOP Staff

The existing Lynn Drive crossing entrance in the Town of Chevy Chase, via Google Maps

If the Town of Chevy Chase wants a pedestrian crossing under the Purple Line at Lynn Drive, the Town or Montgomery County will have to pay for it.

That much was clear from Maryland Transit Administration officials who on Tuesday presented a final attempt at an acceptable design for the crossing. There are about 230 crossings a day of the Capital Crescent Trail on the existing small path there, including many students making their way to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

Previous designs from the MTA were deemed too intrusive or unsafe by the Town. A series of underpass options would mean raising the Purple Line tracks almost 28 feet in the air on a retaining wall, which Town residents feared would be disruptive for the homes backing up to the route.

Early on, MTA said it wouldn’t build a pedestrian crossing at grade with the tracks because of safety issues with the light rail vehicles.

That led to Tuesdsay, when MTA officials presented what they called their last stab at a Lynn Drive crossing to the Town’s Purple Line Mitigation Advisory Group.

MTA engineers said they can lower the height of the Purple Line retaining wall about five to six feet by moving the underpass about 250 feet to the west. The design would require a right-of-way acquisition of the property at 4306 Montgomery Ave. Once that property is acquired, there would be room for a switchback ramp that would offer access to the rebuilt Capital Crescent Trail and Montgomery Avenue.

To access the underpass, Town residents would have a five-foot-wide sidewalk running along the base of the retaining wall to the tunnel, which would be about 10 feet high and 14 feet wide.

The sidewalk would require a temporary construction easement into the backyard of John Keppler, who lives at 7508 Lynn Drive. MTA Purple Line project manager Mike Madden said no temporary construction easements on Town property will be necessary for the construction of the Purple Line or trail.

Keppler was skeptical his property would be undisturbed, even if the Lynn Drive crossing isn’t built.

“You don’t think a single boot will be beyond the property line,” Keppler asked Madden.

“We don’t need a temporary easement,” Madden said.

“That’s not my question,” Keppler said.

“That’s my answer,” Madden said.

“So you’re comfortable with trespass,” Keppler said.

“No, we don’t trespass,” Madden responded.

It was one of a few tense moments between MTA officials and Town residents unhappy with the prospect of the Purple Line in general. Some also seemed miffed as to why the MTA wouldn’t pay for the crossing project.

4306 Montgomery Avenue, via Google MapsThe MTA engineer who presented pointed out that those who use the existing crossing are technically trespassing on a property just north of the trail. The MTA has determined the crossing is a betterment not required of the Purple Line project.

Town Vice Mayor Pat Burda said the Town Council will likely call for a public hearing on the matter next week. Madden said the MTA needs an indication as soon as possible. It is sending out its final Request for Proposals later in June to the four private concessionaire teams bidding to build the system.

Gary Erenrich, from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, said it’s possible the county could add the cost of the Lynn Drive crossing to the $95 million it just budgeted to rebuild the Capital Crescent Trail along the Purple Line tracks.

Madden said the MTA would get a cost estimate to the county, which then could provide that estimate to the Town for its discussion next Wednesday.

Erenrich also said the Town could request the underpass be built into the Purple Line, even if the sidewalk and switchback ramp were to be added at a later time.

Photos via Google Maps

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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