The McNamara Terminal Parking Structure is an 89-acre (36-hectare) 10-level facility, which opened in February 2002. It is one of the largest parking structures in the world. It includes a ground transportation center, pedestrian bridge, two luggage check-in locations, conveyors and bridges to transport luggage, six restrooms, three offices for parking officials, and two electrical substations. The structure can park 11,489 cars in seven user groups. Parking for the L.C. Smith Terminal (and the North Terminal in the future) is offered in a garage known as the Big Blue Deck.
The airport is accessible from I-94, which is the closest entrance to the Berry and Smith Terminals, and from I-275 via Eureka Road, which is closer to the McNamara Terminal. John D. Dingell Drive (named after John D. Dingell) is an expressway that runs from I-94 to Eureka Road. This expressway was built in 1999 for access to the McNamara Terminal. Many other local roads (including Goddard Road, Northline Road, Ecorse Road, Middlebelt Road, Merriman Road, and Wick Road) all have access to the airport and its surrounding property.
Major rental car companies such as Alamo, Enterprise, and Hertz serve the airport. Taxi and limousine service is provided by local companies.
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) [33] provides bus routes 125 (Fort Street - Detroit) and 280 (Middlebelt Road), one per hour, that connect the airport with the rest of Metro Detroit. There is a continuous curbside shuttle that connects the Smith and Berry Terminals with the McNamara Terminal.
The McNamara and Smith Terminals also have cell phone lots. The McNamara Terminal cell phone lot is located on the south side of Eureka Road between I-275 and the airport entrance ramp. The L.C. Smith and North Terminal cell phone lot is located near I-94 at the Middlebelt Road exit and the on-airport car rental facilities. Both cell phone lots are clearly marked and unattended vehicles are prohibited.
Metro Airport has also introduced a new system (1>2>3 PARK) which enables travelers to pay by swiping their credit or debit card. This new system is simple because it does not need a parking stub to know the duration of the travelers' stay. As of now, the "Big Blue Deck", the surface parking lots, and the McNamara Terminal parking structure currently have and use this new system.
Michigan Flyer provides bus service between the airport and Ann Arbor, East Lansing and Jackson eight times daily (as of October 2007).
The planned SEMCOG Commuter Rail system, with termini at Ann Arbor and Detroit, would stop at the airport and provide rail transportation to and from the city.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Serving more than 36 million passengers per year, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport opened in 1929 after two years of construction. The airport consists of three separate buildings (McNamara Terminal, Smith Terminal, and Berry Terminal) and the on site Westin Hotel. While it is a non-smoking airport, smokers can find an adequate smoking area at Detroit 500 Sports Bar or Fox Skybox Sports Bar within McNamara Terminal. Easily reached by I-94 or Highway 275, passengers driving to the airport should not have a hard time finding their terminal. Downtown Detroit is approximately 20 miles to the east.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport serves more than thirty airlines, a mix of charter, commuter, major, and cargo companies. There are close to 20,000 parking spaces in the variety of lots and garages that can easily handle daily traffic. Most passengers in this area fly onward to Chicago to catch other connections. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the 11th busiest in North America and the 17th busiest in the world in terms of passengers passing through the airport. J.D. Powers and Associates named the airport second in passenger satisfaction within the nation. The airport holds steady at number three on the Airport Council International's list of best airports in North America.
Currently, the airport is working with area residents to help soundproof their homes against airport noise. They are also building a new terminal to replace the older Davey and Smith Terminals that struggle to keep up with the changing times. Davey Terminal has been torn down, and Smith Terminal will follow when the new terminal is ready in 2008.
Improvements continue to be made to the airport and parking is a key concern. Opening in 2007 is the 1, 2, 3 Park system in which passengers need only swipe their credit or debit card when they arrive in the parking garage and then go park, a ticket is not needed. When it comes time to leave the garage, all a driver needs to do is swipe the credit or debit card through the machine again and the transaction slip is printed and drivers are on their way. 1, 2, 3 Park will be available in all parking areas.
Long Term Parking The Big Blue Deck across from the Smith Terminal is great for long term parking. With rates of $10 per day, the parking in this garage is affordable. A economy spaces are located in the Big Blue Deck for $8 per day, but this area fills up quickly. The Big Blue Deck is most convenient to Smith Terminal, however, making it less suitable to those flying out of the other terminals. A free shuttle is available for those parking in the Big Blue Deck and runs every twenty minutes.
Those wishing to be closer to McNamara Terminal can park at the McNamara Terminal Parking Garage. The garage is $17 a day for long-term parking or $3 for half and hour, $5 for an hour, $6 for an hour and a half, or $7 for two hours. Valet parking is available in this garage for $10 for two hours or $28 per day. McNamara Terminal Parking Garage has a special baggage check-in on Level 6 to save passengers from having to carry luggage through the covered pedestrian bridge that leads into the terminal.
Discount Airport ParkingThe Yellow Economy Lot is an easy walk from Berry Terminal and is the airport's least expensive parking lot at $8 per day. There are 700 open spaces in the Yellow Economy lot, which is the farthest away from the other terminals. Free shuttle service is available for passengers flying out of McNamara and Smith Terminals. Shuttle buses run every 15 minutes. The parking hotline (1-800-642-1978) offers recorded information on how many spaces are available in this lot.
Handicapped ParkingBoth the McNamara Terminal Parking Garage and the Big Blue Deck have a height restriction of seven feet. Handicapped passengers will find it is far easier to park in the open Yellow Economy Lot and then arrange for a wheelchair accessible shuttle van. Arrangements for the wheelchair accessible shuttle van can be made by calling 1-800-642-1978.
Airport Hotel ParkingWestin Detroit Metropolitan Airport is connected to McNamara Terminal, so it is a short walk to the ticketing and check-in counters within this terminal. Westin guests are can go through a background check and security screening to gain access to the restaurants and stores beyond the security gates.
A number of hotels in the area also offer park and fly packages. Usually these packages include seven or ten days of parking in the price of the room. Howard Johnson Detroit Metro Airport, America's Best Value Inn & Suites, Baymont Inn & Suites, Best Western Gateway International, Comfort Inn Detroit Metro, Days Inn Detroit Airport, La Quinta Inn, Rodeway Inn Detroit Metro, Clarion Hotel Detroit Metro, and Quality Inn & Suites Detroit Metro Airport all offer park and fly options.
Various airport names
Besides its official name, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the airport is colloquially known by other names:
Metro
The McNamara Terminal Parking Structure is an 89-acre (36-hectare) 10-level facility, which opened in February 2002. It is one of the largest parking structures in the world. It includes a ground transportation center, pedestrian bridge, two luggage check-in locations, conveyors and bridges to transport luggage, six restrooms, three offices for parking officials, and two electrical substations. The structure can park 11,489 cars in seven user groups. Parking for the L.C. Smith Terminal (and the North Terminal in the future) is offered in a garage known as the Big Blue Deck.[30]
The airport is accessible from I-94, which is the closest entrance to the Berry and Smith Terminals, and from I-275 via Eureka Road, which is closer to the McNamara Terminal. John D. Dingell Drive (named after John D. Dingell) is an expressway that runs from I-94 to Eureka Road. This expressway was built in 1999 for access to the McNamara Terminal. Many other local roads (including Goddard Road, Northline Road, Ecorse Road, Middlebelt Road, Merriman Road, and Wick Road) all have access to the airport and its surrounding property.[31]
Major rental car companies such as Alamo, Enterprise, and Hertz serve the airport. Taxi and limousine service is provided by local companies.[32]
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) [33] provides bus routes 125 (Fort Street - Detroit) and 280 (Middlebelt Road), one per hour, that connect the airport with the rest of Metro Detroit. There is a continuous curbside shuttle that connects the Smith and Berry Terminals with the McNamara Terminal.
The McNamara and Smith Terminals also have cell phone lots. The McNamara Terminal cell phone lot is located on the south side of Eureka Road between I-275 and the airport entrance ramp. The L.C. Smith and North Terminal cell phone lot is located near I-94 at the Middlebelt Road exit and the on-airport car rental facilities. Both cell phone lots are clearly marked and unattended vehicles are prohibited.[34]
Metro Airport has also introduced a new system (1>2>3 PARK) which enables travelers to pay by swiping their credit or debit card. This new system is simple because it does not need a parking stub to know the duration of the travelers' stay. As of now, the "Big Blue Deck", the surface parking lots, and the McNamara Terminal parking structure currently have and use this new system.[35]
Michigan Flyer provides bus service between the airport and Ann Arbor, East Lansing and Jackson eight times daily (as of October 2007)[36].
The planned SEMCOG Commuter Rail system, with termini at Ann Arbor and Detroit, would stop at the airport and provide rail transportation to and from the city.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (IATA: DTW, ICAO: KDTW), sometimes called Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne Airport, Metro Airport, or simply DTW, is a major international airport in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit and it is Michigan's busiest airport.
Detroit is a primary worldwide hub of Northwest Airlines, and is also a hub for its Northwest Airlink partners, Mesaba Airlines, Compass Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines. It is also a base for Spirit Airlines. Operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, the airport is one of the nation's most recently expanded and modernized airports, with six major runways, three terminals, 153 in-service gates,[3] and an attached Westin Hotel and conference center. The airport's McNamara Terminal Concourse A is the world's second-longest airport terminal building at 1.6 km[4] (just barely beaten by the 1.7 km long Kansai International Airport). It has maintenance facilities capable of servicing and repairing aircraft as large as the Boeing 747.
In 2007, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport was the ninth-busiest airport in the United States and the nineteenth busiest airport in the world.[5] Metro Airport also serves the Toledo, Ohio, area, which is located approximately 47 miles (76 km) south of the airport, and the city of Windsor, Ontario in nearby Canada.[6]
Detroit Metro Airport will be the first U.S. airport to see regular service by the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner when it enters service, as Northwest Airlines remains the U.S. launch customer for this new aircraft. Both hub carrier Northwest Airlines and Chinese carrier China Southern Airlines plan to serve the airport with the new aircraft. The airport has access to over 130 destinations in Canada, the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
In April 2008, Delta Air Lines announced plans to acquire Northwest Airlines to form the world's largest airline.[7] Based upon the two airline's current route networks, Detroit will become the second-largest hub[citation needed] and primary Asian gateway for the newly-combined carrier if the deal closes.
Wayne County authorities began planning for a new airport in the western portions of the county as early as 1927, and the county acquired one square mile of land for an aviation facility, to be called Wayne County Airport, at the corner of Middlebelt and Wick Roads on the northeastern corner of today's airport, the following year. Construction was completed in 1929, and the first official landing took place on February 22, 1930. That same year, Thompson Aeronautical Corporation, a forerunner of American Airlines, inaugurated service from Wayne County. From 1931 until 1945, the airport housed Michigan National Guard operations. The original runway (14/32) was later decommissioned. However, parts of it remain today as Taxiways M-4 and P-4, transversing from southeast of Runway 3R/21L through Runway 9L/27R and ending northwest of Runway 3L/21R.
Between 1947 and 1950, county officials expanded the small airport to become Detroit's primary airport. The airport was renamed Detroit-Wayne Major Airport in 1947 and over the next three years expanded in size threefold as three more runways were built. In 1949, runways 3L/21R and 9L/27R were built and in 1950 runway 4R/22L was built. During this time, most commercial traffic shifted from small Detroit City Airport (now Coleman Young International Airport) northeast of downtown Detroit to the larger Willow Run Airport over twenty miles (32 km) west of the city, and ten miles (16 km) west of Wayne County Airport.
During the early 1950s, Pan-Am and BOAC began operations at Detroit-Wayne Major. 1956 marked a major turning point in the history of the growing airport. American Airlines agreed to shift operations to Detroit-Wayne, doing so two years later, accompanied by four other carriers. Also, the Commercial Aviation Administration (now the FAA) announced that year the inclusion of Detroit-Wayne in the first group of American airports to receive new long-range radar equipment, enabling the airport to become the first inland airport in the United States certified for jet aircraft operations. Also in 1958, the L.C. Smith (South) Terminal was completed to accommodate the new carriers, and the airport was renamed to its present name.
During the next decade, the remaining passenger traffic at Willow Run gradually shifted to Metro Airport, and the North Terminal (later renamed the Davey Terminal) opened in 1966 to accommodate the new arrivals. Growing international traffic necessitated the building of a third terminal, the Michael Berry International Terminal, in 1974. The last of its original three parallel runways (3R/21L) was completed in 1976. A new parallel cross winds runway (9R/27L) opened in 1993.
Republic Airlines began hub operations in 1984, and its merger with Northwest Airlines in 1986 expanded the hub greatly. Transpacific operations began in 1987 with non-stop flights to Tokyo. The last of Metro's six runways (4L/22R) was completed in December 2001. The most recent addition to Metro airport, as well as the most significant, was the opening of the mile-long, 122-gate, $1.2 billion McNamara Terminal in the airport's midfield in 2002.[9]
The present Runway 3L/21R has held four different identifier names. When opened in 1949, it was simply Runway 3/21. With the opening of the new west side Runway 3L/21R in 1950, the original 3/21 was renamed 3R/21L. With the opening of the new east side Runway 3R/21L in 1976, it was renamed 3C/21C. With the opening of Runway 4L/22R in December 2001 and the consequent splitting of the field into two sectors (3/21 on the east and 4/22 on the west) Runway 3C/21C was renamed Runway 3L/21R.
Metro Airport has recently been said to be planning a project which would include an airport rail system, a new runway, and terminal expansions. The FAA projects that air traffic will grow 67% at Detroit Metro over the next 20 years, which would equal to 60 million passengers. The rail system would connect the existing McNamara Terminal and the new North Terminal together via tram. It would also connect an anticipated consolidated rental car facility and a planned regional rail system. Also, the airport is considering lengthining Concourses B and C in the McNamara Terminal. In order to pay for these projects, the Airport Authority has asked Congress to raise the current $4.50 passenger facility fee to $7.00. Northwest Airlines, the airport hub carrier, opposes utilizing the passenger facility fee to fund the airport rail system.[10]
The Wayne County Airport Authority has proposed a new parallel runway that would be built by 2027[11]. This runway will add to the airports' already 4 parallel runways and alleviate future congestion.[12]
The Berry Terminal, designed by Detroit architect Louis G. Redstone, was the former international terminal at DTW. All international passengers would arrive at this terminal, go through customs and immigrations, and continue on to their connecting flights by bus to adjacent terminals. With four gates, the terminal is now used for scheduled and charter flights. There are still several international scheduled flights on low cost carriers to destinations in the Caribbean and other warm-weathered places. There are also four charter airlines that use this terminal.[13] Upon completion of the new North Terminal, the Berry Terminal will be demolished.
The McNamara Terminal, also referred to as The Northwest WorldGateway, opened on February 25, 2002. It was the replacement for the aged Davey Terminal, which principally housed Northwest Airlines, and during development it was known as the Midfield Terminal.
The terminal is mainly used by Northwest Airlines, but houses several other airlines as well, most of which are affiliated with the SkyTeam airline alliance (of which Northwest is a member). It has three concourses, "A", "B", and "C", which house 122 gates with shopping and dining in the center of "A" concourse (known as "the link"), as well as throughout the concourses. The "A" concourse has a people mover, the ExpressTram, that gets passengers from one end of the mile-long (1.6 km) Concourse A to the other, arriving at three different boarding stations, "Terminal Station" (in the center), "North Station" and "South Station", in a little over three minutes.[15] The McNamara Terminal will also open a new baggage sorting facility in October 2008, which will improve screening of baggage through 14 different x-ray machines with bomb detection devices implemented on the conveyor system. Northwest Airlines hopes this will reduce the amount of lost baggage, and improve the timeliness of bags getting to their correct flight.[16]
The "A" concourse holds 64 gates with 12 gates being used for international departures and arrivals processing.[17] The "A" concourse is intended for all but the smaller Northwest aircraft and all international arrivals. The concourse holds over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of moving walkways. English and Japanese signage is found mostly throughout the terminal (because of regular flights to and from points in Japan), as well as other languages located in central areas. Various dining options for passengers include Starbucks, Chili's, McDonalds, Little Caesars, Burger King, TCBY, and Max & Erma's near gates A31 - A47, Quiznos, Hungry Howie's, and Mrs. Fields near gates A1 - A30, and Edy's, Jose Cuervo's Tequileria, Mediterranean Grill, Taco Bell, Rio Wraps, Caribou Coffee, and Charley's near gates A49 - A78.
The ten international gates have dual jetbridges for a quicker deplaning time. They also contain two exit configurations depending on the arriving flight. Domestic arrivals follow the upper path directly into the terminal while international arrivals proceed downstairs to customs and immigration. The customs and immigration office located in the terminal's lower level is built to quickly process as many as 3,200 passengers an hour. The immigration office leads back up and out into the lobby in the center of the "A" concourse, where passengers can enjoy the restaurants and shops on the concourse, or continue on their journey to their final destination.
The "B" and "C" concourses currently have fifty-eight gates. The gates are used for Northwest's smaller aircraft as well as Continental and Delta flights. All regional flights have jetbridges, eliminating the need for outdoor boarding. Shops and restaurants in Concourses B and C include Einstein Bros. Bagels, A&W, and Fuddruckers.
The Smith Terminal, built in 1957, is the oldest of Metro Airport's terminals. The Smith Terminal's thirty-two gates house North American airlines other than Northwest, Delta, and Continental, which currently are located in the McNamara Terminal.[20] All airlines in this terminal will move to the new North Terminal upon its completion in 2008. At that point, the Smith Terminal will be demolished.[21]. Additional ticketing counters have been set up off to the side to accommodate more airlines than the original construction of the terminal called for.[22]
Northwest Airlines once operated out of this terminal, and Spirit Airlines, which now operates out of many of the gates once used by Northwest, has done few upgrades to the gate areas in those parts of the terminal. The Northwest Airlines display boards near check-in counters at each gate remain in place, with the Northwest logos removed, and a Spirit information board simply affixed over the old display board.
Dismantling of several of the gates in Concourse C of this terminal has already taken place as the construction site of the new North Terminal is directly adjacent to this terminal.[23]
Various dining options in the Smith terminal include Quiznos, Starbucks, Chili's-to-go, National Coney Island, and Detroit To Go Sandwiches.
The Davey Terminal was built in 1966 and was first known as "Terminal 2" or the "North Terminal". It was renamed the "J. M. Davey Terminal" in 1975 in honor of former airport manager James M. Davey. It contained five concourses labeled C, D, E, F, and G, as well as a hotel.[24] Of those, Concourse C was considered the worst by most travellers due to its long distance from the center of the terminal, and its long length. Most of Concourse C is still in use today by Spirit Airlines.
The Davey Terminal was the principal base of operations for Northwest Airlines before the McNamara Terminal opened. It remained vacant for three years before demolition of the terminal began on October 17, 2005. All concourses of the Davey Terminal and adjoining hotel, except Concourse C, were demolished. The thin, odd layout of its five concourses let little light or sun in, and it was dark and dreary most of the time. It was in poor condition when it was demolished, and few people regret it. The further end of Concourse C was also demolished, but the lower part of the concourse is still in use today as part of the Smith Terminal.[25]
The site of the demolished section of the Davey Terminal is being used as the site of the new North Terminal.
The North Terminal Redevelopment (NTR) Project is a planned 26-gate terminal complex being designed to replace the airport's older Berry and Smith terminals.[27] Construction has been underway since 2005, making the slated opening date September 17, 2008. During that day, all 24 Domestic gates in the terminal will be opened to make room for any airlines flying domestically in the United States. Once all airlines have relocated to the North Terminal, Concourse C of the Smith Terminal will be demolished promptly to make room for a further two international wide-body gates. In Spring 2009, those two international gates and a Federal Inspection Site (FIS) will open to make room for Lufthansa and Royal Jordanian. If need be, the terminal can expand five more gates with the current building. Once all gates have been opened, the McNamara Terminal will exclusively house SkyTeam alliance carriers.
As of May 2008, the North Terminal's name has not yet been finalized as its naming rights have been put up for to bid.[28]
The North Terminal will incorporate two security checkpoints (each with multiple lanes) in a way that will allow smooth operation and screening of passengers.
