MGM Resort Officials to Allow Metro Bus Stop

MGM officials have backtracked on their earlier position to ban buses from the National Harbor resort, announcing Friday that a stop will be added at the $1.3 billion resort.

Officials with the casino and resort had previously downplayed the need for bus service, saying guests would not use it and few employees would get to work via public transit.

The Washington Post reports MGM National Harbor General Manager Bill Boasberg says a Metro bus stop will be installed close to the casino’s employee entrance on National Avenue.

Area residents and labor union leaders disagreed, saying there is already a need for more public transit at National Harbor, the newspaper says. The growing area already has about 7,000 employees and 11 million annual visitors.

Prince George’s County leaders estimate the casino will employ 3,600 people when it opens, with roughly half of those workers living in the county.

The resort is scheduled to open in the second half of 2016. The 24-story, 308-room venue will feature 3,600 slot machines and 160 table games, a 3,000-seat theater, 55,000 square feet of retail space and more.