Seattle’s traffic congestion issues are not a new problem, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought some relief as many workers transitioned to remote work. However, with Amazon’s recent announcement that it wants thousands of corporate and tech workers back in the office five days a week starting in January, traffic congestion is expected to worsen. When the company mandated at least three days in the office last year, data from transportation software and data provider Inrix showed a significant impact on slowing down traffic on major commute routes, particularly the east-west commute on roads such as SR 520 and I-90.
With roughly 50,000 employees in Seattle and another 12,000 in Bellevue, the majority of workers affected by the three-day mandate have been choosing to come into the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This has resulted in busier foot traffic around Amazon headquarters buildings in the South Lake Union and Denny Triangle neighborhoods during the middle of the week, with Mondays and Fridays remaining slower than normal. However, when the new five-day office order goes into effect in January, Inrix predicts that east-west drivers will experience the largest drop in speeds on Friday mornings, followed by Monday mornings.
Seattle has long been plagued by traffic congestion issues, with the city ranking as the 10th worst in the U.S. for traffic congestion according to Inrix’s 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard. The tech boom and rapid growth of the city in recent years have contributed to excruciating commute times, with drivers losing an average of 58 hours per year sitting in slow commutes. Many workers have embraced remote and hybrid work styles during the pandemic as a way to avoid sitting in traffic, save time, and reduce the associated costs of commuting.
The impact of Amazon’s back-to-office mandates on traffic congestion extends beyond just Seattle, with surrounding areas also experiencing slower speeds on major commute routes. Inrix data shows that afternoon speeds have slowed down by more than 10% in both directions on I-405 and on I-5 northbound to Everett due to workers returning to the office. The city’s traffic problem is expected to worsen with more employees commuting into downtown Seattle, leading to increased congestion on highways and major roadways during peak commute times.
The new five-day office order from Amazon and other companies following suit will likely have a significant effect on traffic in Seattle and the surrounding region. Inrix predicts that east-west drivers will see the largest decrease in speeds on Friday and Monday mornings, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday speeds remaining relatively unaffected as employees are already commuting on those days. The return to regular office hours is expected to exacerbate the city’s traffic congestion issues and make commuting more challenging for workers in the area.
