Following the end of the school holidays, Frankfurt’s streets are returning to crisis mode. While the commute to work in the first week of January was still relatively relaxed, chaos usually sets in by mid-month. On access roads, which last week could still be driven at the legal speed limit, long traffic jams filled with disgruntled commuters begin to form.

Two recent studies highlight just how much time Frankfurt residents spend crawling through traffic. TomTom's 2024 „Traffic Index“ ranks Frankfurt as the second-most congested city in Germany, with commuters losing an average of 80 hours annually compared to optimal traffic conditions. Only Berlin fares worse, with drivers there losing 84 hours.

The traffic data service Inrix has calculated that in 2024, drivers in Frankfurt spent an average of 48 hours in traffic jams, which is 10% more than the national average, and 4% more than the previous year. That Frankfurt, as the banking capital, ranks only sixth in the national comparison offers little comfort to those affected. The fact that traffic jams in top of the table Dusseldorf have increased by a substantial 22% within a year is equally unhelpful.

Traffic congestion has worsened in nearly all major German cities. What stands out in Frankfurt, however, is the striking contrast between the traffic chaos and the local office real estate market. Anyone who listens to the news these days – most likely while stuck in traffic – might wonder: Where is everyone going? According to recent reports, Frankfurt's offices are emptier than ever before.

A report from real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle shows Frankfurt's office vacancy rate reached 9.7% in 2024, up from 8.8% the previous year. As remote working becomes increasingly common, companies are downsizing office spaces. And yet, the chaos in commuter traffic continues to grow?

The devil is in the details when it comes to statistics: The measured office vacancy rate not only includes spaces that existed before the Covid-19 pandemic, but also those offices that have been built since. As a result, the vacancy rate is not expected to have a major effect on traffic.

Frankfurt's alternative transportation options have also suffered. A shortage of personnel has forced the city to operate buses and trains on a reduced emergency schedule for over a year, prompting some commuters to switch to cars. Additionally, there are countless construction sites, many kilometres of new bike lanes, and various other creative ideas to make the city more car-restricted.

But the relationship between office space and traffic density works both ways, meaning the outlook for the real estate sector isn't particularly bright: the more difficult commuting becomes, the more appealing work from home is to many people. There is no cause without an effect.