In 2024, Seattle experienced a 9% increase in traffic congestion, leading to drivers losing an average of 63 hours to traffic delays, up from 58 hours the previous year. This data comes from the 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard released by transportation analytics company Inrix, indicating that individual drivers in Seattle lost around $1,128 in time and productivity due to traffic jams. Seattle ranked 10th for worst congestion in U.S. cities, a position it held from the previous year. The trend of increased traffic is expected to continue as more employees return to the office, following Amazon’s full-time return-to-office policy implemented last week.
One of the factors contributing to Seattle’s congestion issues is the concentration of employment in downtown areas, where around 10% of the city’s jobs are located. Seattle is constrained by geographical features such as Puget Sound and large lakes, limiting travel corridors and stemming from decisions made in the 1960s and ’70s to cancel some highway construction projects. Despite an increase in transit use and car commuting from 2022 to 2023, bus and other transit alternatives are still down 46% in Seattle compared to pre-pandemic levels, although this trend may be changing due to new light rail lines and stations opening.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is launching a major three-year project this spring to improve Interstate 5 through the $203 million “Revive I-5” initiative. This project will include resurfacing, drainage improvements, and other enhancements that may cause significant traffic backups when the double-lane work zone begins in spring 2025. As a result, commuters may turn to light rail and other public transit options, although there is a risk that the system may become overburdened since it is not very large.
Similar to Seattle, other tech hubs like San Francisco are also experiencing increasing traffic congestion as more employees return to the office. San Francisco saw a 24% drop in work-from-home numbers from 2022 to 2023, leading to a 2% rise in traffic congestion in the region. The return to the office and the decline in remote work have contributed to a surge in traffic jams across many cities, highlighting the challenges of transportation planning and infrastructure development in the face of changing work trends.
Overall, Seattle’s traffic congestion issues are exacerbated by its unique geographic constraints, concentration of employment in downtown areas, and historical decisions regarding highway construction. However, recent improvements in transit options, such as the opening of new light rail lines and stations, may help alleviate some of the congestion issues in the city. The Revive I-5 project by the Washington State Department of Transportation aims to further improve transportation infrastructure, but commuters should be prepared for potential traffic disruptions during the construction period. As more employees return to the office and work-related travel increases, cities like Seattle will face ongoing challenges in managing traffic congestion and ensuring efficient transportation systems for their residents.
