Police issue reminder: Parking along terminal curbs is not permitted
DETROIT (Nov. 9, 2026) – Construction on a new North Cell Phone Lot at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is underway. The lot will replace the current waiting area off the East Service Drive. The new lot at Rogell Drive and Burton Drive will provide a more convenient location for drivers to wait before picking up arriving passengers.
“This new lot reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience at DTW,” said Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) CEO Chad Newton. “The location is on the same side of the road as the Warren C. Evans Terminal. Drivers will no longer need to park near the exit to I-94 and use the turnaround to reach the Arrivals curb. 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, near Eureka and Wayne roads, will not change. Once construction at the North Lot is complete, there will be zero tolerance for parking in front of the Evans or Edward H. McNamara terminals. The curb fronts have always been prohibited parking areas. The WCAA Police Department will strictly enforce the law; only active loading and unloading will be permitted.
The police department requests drivers remain in one of DTW’s cell phone lots until they’ve received confirmation that their passengers have their bags and are waiting at the curb. Drivers in violation will be subject to a citation and a fine of $70. Vehicles left unattended will be towed.
“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.”
Signage will be displayed across the DTW campus, identifying cell phone lot locations and informing drivers and travelers of the potential penalties for non-compliance.
The new North Cell Phone Lot will have approximately 145 parking spaces. It is scheduled to open ahead of the holiday travel season in late November.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomed more than 33 million passengers in 2025. As one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs, DTW offers service from 17 scheduled passenger airlines. Michigan’s largest airport offers approximately 800 flights per day to and from more than 125 nonstop destinations on three continents. With two award-winning passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin Hotel, DTW is among the world’s most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport earned Airports Council International’s 2020 and 2022 Airport Service Quality Award for Best Airport by Size and Region (25 to 40 million passengers per year in North America). DTW has also garnered three prestigious awards for customer satisfaction since 2010. DTW is operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport – an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations. Visit www.metroairport.com for more information.
