Breakfast links: Welcome to fabulous Prince George’s

MGM’s big moment

Prince George’s County leaders hope the MGM National Harbor, which is set to open on December 8th, will be an economic boon for the county.  Meanwhile, some residents are worried about extra traffic and question how much the county will reap the casino’s benefits. (Post)

Strike out on late-night service

Ever since Metro suspended late-night service with the start of SafeTrack, it hasn’t made any exceptions, and it’s unlikely to do so for any potential Nationals playoff games that could end after midnight. (WAMU)

A new paratransit model?

Transport DC, the District’s paratransit taxi service, is back after summer funding problems. Supporters say it’s much more convenient than MetroAccess and is a strong model for low-cost paratransit. (WAMU)

Bad traffic in SafeTrack

Since SafeTrack started in June, there has often been no clear pattern for how trains should pass through work surge areas. That’s according to a new FTA report, which says the lack of planning has led to more problems for customers. (Post)

Development halted

Residents of Ward’s Brookland Manor, a public housing complex, filed a motion to stop a planned redevelopment.  They’re unhappy about the size of the proposed units, which have fewer bedrooms and are less family-friendly.  (City Paper, WBJ)

DC has small houses

The District is bucking a nationwide trend towards larger houses.  Due to the increasing number of apartments being built to handle a growing population, DC has the fourth smallest average home size. (Washingtonian)

Inspectors shall not pass

On a few occasions over the summer, Metro employees denied FTA inspectors access to tracks.  The FTA doesn’t need permission to carry out inspections, and Metro says the issue has been addressed. (Post)

Self-driving cars vs. transit

Autonomous vehicles could draw passengers away from rail systems, making it even harder for systems with high fixed costs and declining revenues to keep up with maintenance and service. (CityLab)

Better biking laws

Bike infrastructure like dedicated lanes can be expensive. When they aren’t doable, useful tools for cities could include adopting bike-friendly laws like the Idaho Stop and enforcing existing laws to keep drivers accountable. (LA Times)