Seattle Culture
Seattle Commute Survey Shows More Office Activity
Both transit travel and driving trips are on the rise
By Rob Smith April 29, 2025
Downtown Seattle foot traffic still isn’t nearly what it was prior to the pandemic, but more people are commuting to offices on a regular basis.
The 2024 Commute Seattle Survey finds that both transit travel and drive-alone trips are on the rise as remote working drops. Citywide, the percentage of people reporting that their jobs are fully remote decreased by 8% last year from 2022. Transit use is up 3%, and drive-alone trips rose 6%.
“As more people return to in-person work, they’re rethinking how they get to the places that matter most,” says Alex Hudson, Commute Seattle’s executive director. “This is a crucial opportunity for employers and the public agencies to invest in sustainable ways to get around.”
Transit use was popular among all demographics, with the highest usage among people ages 15-24, or people with household incomes below $60,000. People who bike or walk tend to live closer to their workplaces and report the highest satisfaction with their commute.
Monday and Friday continue to be the most popular remote days for work.
The annual survey is a joint effort between Commute Seattle, the city Department of Transportation and the University of Washington’s Mobility Innovation Center. It was conducted last October and involved more than 75,000 workers.
The Downtown Seattle Association says foot traffic in March was the highest Since March 2020, but it’s still only about 60% of foot traffic in March 2019.
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