Austin Traffic Volume Up After Return-to-Office Order—But Speeds Stay the Same

New data from the Texas Department of Transportation reveals that traffic on Austin’s highways increased following the directive for state employees to return to the office full-time on March 31. Despite increasing vehicles on the road, average travel speeds on major thoroughfares such as Interstate 35, MoPac, and U.S. Highway 183 remained relatively stable during peak hours.

Recent analysis conducted by KUT News examined traffic patterns from early March through the first week after the return-to-office mandate was implemented. Traffic volume on I-35 at Onion Creek Parkway has notably increased by approximately 5% during weekdays. In a surprising turn of events, average speeds during the morning rush have increased, climbing from 18 to 28 miles per hour. Afternoon traffic speeds experienced a minor decrease, dropping from 28 mph to 25 mph in the southbound direction.

Travel times on city surface streets remained largely stable, with notable exceptions in construction zones. One such area is near the Austin Convention Center, where ongoing work has slowed traffic on Cesar Chavez Street by as much as 37% during daytime hours.

The consistent traffic speeds indicate a multifaceted transportation system shaped by factors beyond merely the volume of vehicles on the road. David Schrank of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute stated, “Traffic is influenced by many overlapping factors, including crashes, signal timing, and work schedules.” Identifying a single cause proves to be a challenging task.

State employees constitute a mere fraction, accounting for less than 2% of the 1.5 million workforce in the metropolitan region, a factor that could elucidate the limited effect observed. Premium work schedules could alleviate peak-hour congestion, as some employees opt to travel during non-traditional rush hours.

City officials are actively monitoring potential hotspots using cameras and traffic analytics. Adjustments have been implemented near the TxDOT campus on Stassney Lane to facilitate smoother traffic flow as state employees resume office work.

Austin's notorious traffic congestion near I-35 and Lady Bird Lake has shown little variation, with average speeds during the afternoon rush hour remaining at a sluggish 10 mph both before and after the mandate's implementation.