New Metro also has new Web site

Not only did Detroit Metro Airport get a new terminal and myriad other improvements, but somewhere along the way the airport got a new and improved Web site as well.

In fact, Wayne County government, owner and operator of the airport, also got a new, easier-to-navigate Web site, www.waynecounty.com.

The county's site does away with the old map and side navigation bar for searches of departments, and breaks everything down into two separate sections of the screen. Items are listed in small, well-labeled and defined boxes.

The airport site, or sites, are more visually pleasing and easy to navigate.

"One of the things we added to Metro Airport's new Web site is a new address," said spokesman Brian Lassaline. "You can still navigate to the site as always by typing in www.metroairport.com, but now Web site visitors can also get to the site by typing in www.thenewmetro.com, too."

Once you're in the site, it is similar to the Wayne County site, but flashes photos of the new terminal, the airport and environs at the top of the page, just for visual effect.

"With all of the major changes which have been taking place at Metro Airport, we thought it was important to update our website to reflect those changes, and to provide our visitors with the information they need to find their way around our new facilities," Lassaline said. "We wanted to make the site as visually pleasing as possible."

Like the county site, the airport site is easy to navigate with subject bars clearly defined and easy to understand. The site includes information about the new access road, terminal services, airline information, weather updates, maps and directions to the airport and contacts at the airlines.

"It's got all new maps and illustrations on how to get around the "new" airport," Lassaline said. "And, as the airport changes, the site will, too, of course.

". . .(It's) been updated to provide visitors with important maps to assist them in finding their way around the new Metro Airport - including the new McNamara terminal, parking garage and new south access road, John Dingell Drive. From driving directions, to parking information, to terminal maps and frequently asked questions, the new site has answers for just about all of our travelers' questions."

The site also includes travel tips, a virtual tour of the new terminal, press releases, airport history and ground transportation.

"The new Web site look is quite different from before, with a lot more illustrations, photos and even videos which describe some of the major projects at the airport, including the beautiful new McNamara Terminal," Lassaline said.

"We want our passengers and visitors using Wayne County's new airport facilities to be educated and informed about how to get around the new Metro," said Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara. "This new Web site is as easy and attractive to use as our beautiful new airport terminal and facilities ... it's a wonderful complement to a wonderful new facility."

Lassaline said airport personnel work closely with the Web Mistress downtown, and changes are just a phone call - or e-mail - away.

The public is always invited to make comments, he said. Suggestions, such as more maps, were incorporated into the design. Contact information for the airport staff is also on the Web site and, although Lassaline said many of the inquiries are about flight related problems or questions, they're more than happy to respond.

One of the more popular parts of the site continues to be information about the airlines and flight information, he said.

"We have links to all the airline sites; also we have a flight information service for all airlines; weather information; road construction around the airport; anything that might affect your visit here and your flight out of the new Metro Airport," Lassaline said.

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