Telecommuting has significantly altered traffic dynamics across the United States, including shifting traditional community peaks, according to a study by Coworking Cafe. Nearly 14% of full-time workers work remotely at least part-time, up from 5.7% in 2019.
However, telecommuting’s impact on traffic congestion is not consistent, the report said.
In the South, Raleigh saw the most dramatic reduction in traffic congestion of 17% between 2019 and 2023 as telecommuting in the area grew from 10.5% to 23.6%. Driven by the city’s tech sector, work-from-home flexibility has persisted even after offices reopened.
Similarly, Tulsa experienced an 8% decrease in congestion while work-from-home levels increased 6.1% in 2019 to 15.8% in 2023. Jacksonville and San Antonio also have enjoyed decreasing congestion levels with the rise of remote work.
Other cities in the South region have not experienced improvements in congestion. Birmingham, Orlando and Louisville maintained the same level of congestion from 2019 to 2023 even though telecommuting increased 235%, 156% and 176% respectively. The study attributed steady levels of congestion to increasing non-commuting traffic such as delivery services and ride-sharing.
In the West, work-from-home adoption grew from 6.1% in 2018 to 16.5% in 2023, particularly in tech hubs like San Jose and San Diego, where congestion decreased. But fast-growing cities like Phoenix experienced rising traffic despite increased remote work, the report said. Congestion in Phoenix increased by 28% and traffic volume grew by 12% despite WFH adoption doubling thanks to the city’s rapid population growth and economic expansion. The report said the city’s booming real estate and construction sectors added to road use, which offset reduced traffic from telecommuting.
In the Northeast, cities experienced a range of outcomes. Albany, New York, reduced congestion by 25% on WFH growth of only 31%. Buffalo’s WFH increased by more than 160% but congestion only dropped 13%, according to the study. Congestion remained unchanged in Rochester despite a significant 184% increase in WFH. Boston’s congestion rose by 58% despite tripling its WFH rate, making it one of the most congested cities in the region.
The Midwest also experienced variations in congestion patterns. Detroit and Omaha benefitted from telecommuting, while Chicago and Milwaukee saw congestion increase despite WFH growth. Omaha saw the most dramatic improvement in the region, with congestion decreasing 29%. Milwaukee, on the other hand, saw the highest increase for that category in the area at 38%.
Milwaukee’s economy, which includes a significant industrial base, faced rising road use, particularly as freight traffic continued to grow.