Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

Detroit has population of approximately 915,000, while the larger metropolitan statistical area (covering about 3,913 square miles) includes just under 4,250,000 people.

Detroit is the home of world headquarters for two major automakers, General Motors Corporation and Ford Motor Corporation. It's also the home of the North American headquarters for Daimler Chrysler and Volkswagen. A host of other major brand headquarters are located here, including Kelly Services, Borders Group, Dominos, Little Caeser's, Compuware and Northwest Airlines.

In addition to automobile manufacturing, the area is a leader in the production of paints, non-electrical machinery and automation equipment, pharmaceutical and rubber products and synthetic resins.

Sales tax in Detroit is 6%.

Weather

Detroit, as well as the rest of southeastern Michigan, has a climate that is heavily influenced by its location near the Great Lakes. Cold winters include temperatures that drop below 10 °F (–12 °C) and have moderate snowfalls of anywhere from 1 to 10 inches a month November through early April. Summertime temperatures are quite warm, with highs topping 90 °F (32 °C).

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) is located about 20 minutes outside Detroit in Romulus and serves the Greater Detroit area. It's a Northwest Airlines hub, offering direct flights to many locations. The airport has three terminals, with free shuttle service between the terminals.

The fastest transportation from the airport is via taxi cab. A trip to downtown generally costs about $45-$50. The SMART suburban bus system also connects the airport to downtown. It's quite economical, only $1.50 one way, but it's advisable to plan your trip in advance, especially if you are pressed for time, to ensure your connection. Buses stop on the outer roadway (lower level) near the Ground Transportation offices at the Smith Terminal. For a SMART bus schedule call 866-962-5515 or visit www.smartbus.org. The trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Of course, you can always rent a car if you plan to be in the city for several days. There are multiple car rental agencies located at the airport.

If you need to charter a bus, contact Metropolitan Shuttle at 866-556-3545.

Making Your Way

The easiest way to get around Detroit is by car, whether it be by taxi or car rental. In the downtown area, you can hail a taxi curbside. In outlying areas, you'll need to call for a taxi. The following are area taxi companies:
Checker Cab Company
313-963-5005
Greater Detroit Cab Company
313-962-4116
Detroit Cab Company
313-841-6000

Some area car rental agencies include:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Renaissance Center)
313-259-3946
Hertz (Detroit Metro Airport)
734-941-4747
Avis (Detroit Metro Airport)
313-962-2004

If you do opt for public transportation, the city has two bus lines, one run by the Department of Transportation and another called the SMART bus line. Department of Transportation buses are yellow and green and service the downtown area. SMART buses are white with red and orange strips and are used for suburban travel only. For both bus lines, standard fare is $1.50, with a transfer being $.25.

The city also has a People Mover, an elevated rapid transit rail system that services the downtown area. It's not terribly fast, as walking gets you just about as far. But it's a fun ride that provides some great sightseeing for those new to town.

Transit Windsor operates a "Tunnel Bus," connecting downtown Detroit with downtown Windsor in Ontario, Canada.

News & Views

Detroit's two main daily newspapers include the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News. Cran's Detroit Business is the leading local business publication. The Metro Times Detroit is a weekly paper that's also popular in the metro area.

Detroit's radio market stands among the top ten in the United States. Some of the area radio stations are as follows:
FM 101.9 - WDET
Detroit Public Radio/NPR
FM 102.7 - WDMK
Urban Contemporary
FM 103.5 - WMUZ
Christian Contemporary
FM 104.3 - WOMC
Oldies
FM 105.9 - WDTJ
Hip Hop
FM 107.5 - WGPR
Smooth Jazz
AM 760 - WJR
News / Talk
AM 950 - WWJ
News
AM 1270 - WXYT
Talk/Sports
FM 88.7 - CIMX - 89X
Alternative Rock
FM 93.1 - WDRQ
Top 40
FM 95.5 -WKQI
Top 40
FM 96.3 - WDVD
Hot Adult Contemporary
FM 98.3 - WTWR
Tower 98 - Top 40
FM 99.5 - WYCD
Country
FM 101.1 - WRIF
Rock

Quirks & Curiosities

Detroit's metro area has east-west mile roads, 5 Mile Road to 32 Mile Road, but be on the lookout because some mile roads do change names when they segue into new counties or cities.

As with any large city, there's plenty of traffic in Detroit. When driving, be aware that the left lane in Detroit is considered the fast driving lane. Be prepared to keep up with traffic and to possibly encounter some rather aggressive driving if you opt for this lane.

The streets in Detroit are laid out using both a grid and spoke and wheel pattern. The French influence on the city provided the wheel pattern and the later British influence the grid.

If you ask for directions don't be surprised when natives answer with the name of the highway rather than the number. Most Detroiters also preface the name with the word "the," as in "The Ford" when referring to I-94.

Getting Your Bearings

Should you have any questions while visiting the Motor City, feel free to contact the Detroit Convention and Visitor's Bureau Information Center located at:
211 West Fort St
Corner Fort St & Washington Blvd
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 800-338-7648
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

The Mayor's Office is located at:
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave
Ste 1126
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313-224-3400
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm

Necessities - Post Offices

Detroit has a number of post offices throughout the metro area. The main post office is located at:
1401 W Fort St # M106
Detroit, MI 48233
Phone: 313-226-8075 or 877-876-2455

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.

Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).