The pandemic shaved a couple minutes off your drive to work.
What's happening: The average one-way commute in Phoenix was 2.3 minutes shorter in 2021 compared to 2019, per the latest U.S. Census data.
Why it matters: More people working from home has reshaped the traditional back-and-forth.
- Close to 21% of Arizonans worked remotely in 2021, up from 7.6% in 2019, according to the data.
Between the lines: Traffic congestion is down about 27% across major U.S. cities' downtowns compared to pre-pandemic levels, reports Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick.
- Nationwide, the average one-way trip to work was two minutes shorter than in 2019, per the Census data.
What we're watching: For those who do commute, new flexibility has made it easier to avoid rush hour and cut back on some of the stress around driving to work, Adam Kamins, a senior director at research firm Moody’s Analytics, told Axios.
Go deeper: The number of people working remotely tripled during COVID
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