Route 125: A SMART way to get to the airport from downtown

By

Tom Page

About three years, I moved back from Los Angeles and bought a condo in Brush Park in Midtown just east of Woodward Avenue in Midtown. Why Brush Park? I wanted to be within walking and cycling distance of downtown, the DSO, Comerica Park, Wayne State, the DIA and the many other cultural institutions. I also travel frequently for both business and pleasure.

Easy and inexpensive access to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

Most people told me the only way to get to the airport, outside of driving oneself or begging a ride from a friend, was by cab or limousine. There was no way that I was going to regularly pay the $40 and more for a one-way cab ride from midtown Detroit to DTW.

So I did a little research on-line, and I found that SMART 125 makes 35 trips each weekday from downtown Detroit to DTW. About every half-hour from 4:14 AM to 10:35 PM, SMART 125 begins its journey from downtown to DTW. And I’ve become a regular customer.

I’d like to spread the word about one of the best deals in town: $1.50 from downtown Detroit to the airport. $3.00 round trip! And there’s no parking charge!

SMART 125 is not only inexpensive, climate-controlled transportation; it’s probably the best tour of the southwest side you’ll ever have!

The trip from downtown Detroit to DTW takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. So, yes, the bus is significantly slower than a car. But don’t forget this is all the way to the terminal. Figure in the time spent parking (just try to find a spot at holiday time!) and riding a parking shuttle to the terminal, and the time difference is much smaller. And that time can be spent reading, working or doing whatever else you want, not stressing out in traffic, staring at the bumper in front of you.

As they say, do the math! Driving this 42-mile round-trip costs $21.21 (based on the federal mileage rate of $.505 per mile) plus $10 a day or more in parking. A cab or limousine rode costs $80 or more. Compare this to $3.00 round-trip bus fare! Clearly taking the bus is a real money saver.

SMART 125 provides tour of the southwest side

From downtown, Route 125 travels the old streets of Detroit’s Delray neighborhood. Delray still contains many relics of its historical industrial might, plus historic churches and angels hung from storefronts of West Jefferson Avenue. Check out Kovacs bar and historic Fort Wayne on the Detroit River. Route 125 continues into River Rouge, skims Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, and Southgate before stopping at the Southland Shopping Center (Macy’s, JC Penney, Tom’s Collectibles (no relation), and much more) and the adjacent Meijer in Taylor. Then on to the back door of DTW (on Wick Road). Route 125’s DTW stops, which alternate between the Smith and McNamara terminals, are conveniently located adjacent to the baggage claim areas. Complementary shuttles link the terminals.

Suggestions to make your SMART airport trip easy

Travel light. SMART buses aren’t equipped to handle luggage, so two small carry-ons are probably the maximum you should take. Traveling light will also make your odyssey through airport check-in much faster. And there won’t be any luggage for your airline to lose!

Grab a daily newspaper, bring some of the magazines stacked up at home, a book, and/or some cool tunes on to your MP3 player. Be considerate of your fellow passengers and keep the volume down.

One morning last February I woke to the aftermath of a blizzard that had buried area streets. Having an early morning flight to catch, I briefly weighed my options, and decided to take SMART to the airport. SMART 125 arrived right on schedule. Despite the snowy roads, we made it to the McNamara terminal at DTW only five minutes behind schedule. I didn’t have to fight the snowdrifts, the icy streets nor the salt trucks. My flight was only half-filled as many other passengers never made it to the airport.

I also should point out that any SMART or DDOT route that goes downtown connects with SMART 125. Or you can hail a taxi for the final leg home. For example, one evening, I arrived downtown from the airport and rather than walk home, I hailed a taxi near a downtown hotel. $5 and 5 minutes later I was home.

SMART 125 may be just the ticket to save you some money and some wear and tear on your vehicle. You may even do your family and friends a favor by letting them sleep in! See you on the bus!