---
title: "Microsoft’s return-to-office policy creates a return to slower commutes, traffic analysis shows"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/278596695.md"
description: "Microsoft's return-to-office policy, requiring Seattle-area employees to work three days a week, has led to increased traffic congestion. Data from Inrix shows significant drops in travel speeds on major roadways, with morning commutes slowing by up to 35%. The policy allows teams to determine their in-office days, with some roles exempt. Relief is expected with the opening of Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection on March 28, linking Seattle and the Eastside by light rail."
datetime: "2026-03-10T17:41:09.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/278596695.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/278596695.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/278596695.md)
---

# Microsoft’s return-to-office policy creates a return to slower commutes, traffic analysis shows

Seattle-area Microsoft employees who are showing up in the office three days a week are also showing up on roadways and impacting commuters’ speeds, according to new data from traffic analysis company Inrix.

Inrix measured travel speeds on eastbound and westbound SR 520 and southbound and northbound I-405 during the weeks of Feb. 23 and March 2. Many of Microsoft’s more than 50,000 employees in the region rely on the roadways and bridges connecting Seattle and the Eastside to the company’s headquarters campus in Redmond, Wash.

The data shows speeds on 520 dropped across all days during the first week, with speeds on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday showing the slowest travel speeds over just over 30 mph.

Morning commute speeds between Tukwila and Bellevue fell as much as 35% and as much as 25% between Lynnwood and Bellevue. The evening commute saw speeds drops as much as 27% between Bellevue and Tukwila on Friday while speeds fell 21% northbound between Bellevue and Lynnwood, Inrix reported.

Microsoft isn’t dictating from above which three days people will need to be in the office. Specifics are left to individual teams and managers. Some groups may require more than three days, and certain customer-facing roles like field sales and consultants are exempt.

The region’s roadways could get some relief when Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection opens March 28, finally linking Seattle and the Eastside by light rail across Lake Washington — connecting downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Redmond Technology station at Microsoft headquarters.

**Previously:**

-   Microsoft’s new RTO policy starts Feb. 23, bringing Seattle-area workers back 3 days a week

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