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Bethesda Metro escalator replacement could last more than 2 years

By WTOP Staff

The replacement of the three main escalators at the Bethesda Metro station could start as early as Oct. 6 and will take an estimated two-and-a-half years, Metro said Thursday.

County officials and local business leaders have been wary of the escalator replacement for some time, all the while asking Metro to move up the replacement because of regular breakdowns.

Because of the design of the Bethesda station and the length of the escalators (at 106 feet, the escalators are the second longest in the Western Hemisphere, behind the ones at Wheaton) Metro officials have said it will be a long and complicated process.

Metro and contractor KONE will install the new escalators one at a time, while keeping one escalator running up and one running down for the duration of the project.

Because demolition of the more than 30-year-old escalators can only be done during a four-hour work period when the station is closed at night, the entire replacement of each escalator will take about 10 months. After demolition of the existing escalators, crews must construct, install and test the new ones.

“Taken together, these factors extend the project timeline to about 2 ½ years,” according to a Metro press release. “However, the new escalators have already been manufactured and are in storage so the project can move forward efficiently.”

For the duration of the project, Metro will station Transit Police, emergency management, rail supervision and escalator technicians at the Bethesda station at all times to monitor operations and ensure there’s no overcrowding on the escalators still in service.

But that reassurance comes with a caveat:

“However, riders should be aware that in the event of a service disruption, the station may need to be temporarily closed to prevent safety hazards related to overcrowding,” read the press release. “This may happen with little advance notice. When the station is temporarily closed, Red Line trains will bypass the station in both directions and passengers on the platform will have to exit the station.”

With that in mind, Metro offered a few words of advice for passengers who use the station:

Advice for Bethesda Customers

  • For safety reasons, Metro may need to temporarily close Bethesda Station to prevent overcrowding during service disruptions or other events, such as a disabled train, medical emergency, infrastructure problem or power failure. This may happen with little advance notice. When the station is temporarily closed, Red Line trains will bypass the station in both directions and passengers on the platform will have to exit the station.
  • Review your options now, and create an alternate plan for the possibility that Bethesda Station is not available.
  • During temporary closures, Metro will provide shuttle bus service between Bethesda and Medical Center Stations.  If you are on the train, exit at Medical Center and take a free shuttle bus to Bethesda. For travelers who are not yet in the system, you may want to go directly to one of the two nearest alternate stations: Medical Center and Friendship Heights. Medical Center is just over a mile to the north (approximately 20 minute walk) on Wisconsin Ave, and Friendship Heights is less than two miles to the south.
  • Metrobus and RideOn buses may provide good alternatives, so you are urged to familiarize yourself now with local bus routes.
  • Sign up for MetroAlerts to receive emails or text messages alerting you whenever there is a disruption on the Red Line or closure of the Bethesda station.  MetroAlerts will send another notification when the station has reopened.  You can sign up at wmata.com/MetroAlerts.

Flickr photo via ehpien

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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