INRIX Inc.

01/14/2025 | News release | Archived content

The Ripple Effect: Amazon’s Return to Office and Its Impact on Roadways

In 2024, Amazon implemented its new return-to-office (RTO) policy, requiring employees to return to the office five days a week starting January 2, 2025. While the decision sparked mixed reactions among employees, its most immediate and noticeable effect was on Seattle's roadways: a significant increase in traffic congestion and travel times.

The return of tens of thousands of Amazon employees daily commuting to downtown Seattle and Bellevue created ripple effects that were quickly felt. As a result, highways connecting suburbs to urban centers experienced significant congestion, with travel times doubling in some cases.

  • Longer Commutes: Average commute times during peak hours rose sharply. In Seattle, for instance, commute times increased by 15-20%, with some arterial roads reporting even greater delays.
  • Heavier Traffic Volume: Roads that were beginning to recover from pre-pandemic congestion saw an influx of vehicles, leading to extended backups during morning and evening rush hours.
  • Increased Stress on Infrastructure: Highways and local streets, already strained by daily use, struggled to accommodate the sudden surge in vehicle traffic, leading to frequent bottlenecks and delays.

Using INRIX Roadway Analytics, we dove into the impact of Amazon's RTO to the Seattle roadwork. The below graphs are average speeds on weekdays during the morning commute (7-9am).

Conclusion
 Amazon's return-to-office policy has placed a spotlight on the intricate relationship between workplace decisions and urban infrastructure. While the policy has revitalized downtown areas, it has also led to significant challenges on roadways, with decreased speeds being a key issue. Moving forward, collaboration between corporations and local stakeholders will be essential to create sustainable solutions that balance economic activity with efficient transportation systems.