Detroit Metro relocates North Cell Phone Lot to improve passenger pick-up access

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Image: TheSplendid1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Construction is officially underway on a new North Cell Phone Lot at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), designed to streamline traffic and improve convenience for drivers picking up arriving passengers ahead of the busy holiday season.

Located at the intersection of Rogell Drive and Burton Drive, the new facility will replace the existing waiting area off the East Service Drive. Positioned on the same side of the road as the Warren C. Evans Terminal, the site eliminates the need for motorists to park near the I-94 exit and navigate the turnaround to access the Arrivals curb.

“This new lot reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience at DTW,” said Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) CEO Chad Newton. “We hope this change will result in increased use of our North Cell Phone Lot, reducing congestion at the curb and creating a safer environment for everyone moving through our airport.”

The South Cell Phone Lot, situated near Eureka and Wayne roads, will remain unchanged.

Strict Curbside Enforcement & $70 Fines

Coinciding with the opening of the new lot, the WCAA Police Department announced a zero-tolerance policy for unauthorized parking along the terminal curbs. Parking in front of both the Evans and Edward H. McNamara terminals has always been prohibited, but officers will now strictly enforce active loading and unloading only.

Drivers are instructed to remain in one of DTW’s designated cell phone lots until their arriving passengers have collected their baggage and are physically waiting at the curb.

Violators face immediate consequences:

• Fines: Drivers parked at the curb will be issued a $70 citation.

• Towing: Any vehicles left unattended along terminal curbs will be towed immediately.

“Safety at DTW is our top priority,” said Tadarial Sturdivant, Senior Vice President of Emergency & Support Services and Operations. “This zero-tolerance approach allows our officers to keep traffic flowing safely and ensures that curbside space remains available for our customers who need to load and unload quickly.”

Updated signage is being installed across the DTW campus to direct motorists to the cell phone lots and highlight penalty warnings.

Featuring approximately 145 parking spaces, the new North Cell Phone Lot is scheduled to open in late November.