Waymo seeks OK for expansion to Peninsula, L.A.
Waymo’s potential expansion of its driverless taxis into the Peninsula and Los Angeles County is attracting local pushback akin to San Francisco’s failed stand against robotaxis last year.
Pleas for delays and more input from the San Mateo County Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles Department of Transportation are among the dozens of mostly supportive letters published Friday by the California Public Utilities Commission, in response to Waymo’s expansion request.
Waymo would expand its commercial operations to 22 Bay Area cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, as well as a large swath of metro Los Angeles if the commission approves the company’s latest request. The company would be able to deploy its selfdriving cars on local roads and freeways in a service area covering much of the Peninsula east of Interstate 280, at speeds of up to 65 mph, as it’s currently permitted in San Francisco.
Alphabet-owned Waymo is currently the only company permitted to operate fully driverless ride-hailing services in the state since Cruise’s indefinite suspension due to its handling of the Oct. 2 severe crash in San Francisco.
The Public Utilities Commission, which regulates robotaxi services in the state, last year allowed Waymo to charge for driverless rides at all hours in San Francisco.
Permission for driverless ridehailing on the Peninsula and in Los Angeles would be a major victory for the Mountain Viewbased company and further solidify Waymo’s U.S. foothold in the robotaxi race. The company also operates driverless ride-hailing in Phoenix and Austin, Texas, and would be the first to deploy robotaxis in California’s two most populous regions, if the PUC allows it.
Despite opposition from local governments, support for Waymo’s expansion from business interest groups, disability access nonprofits and some street safety advocates far outnumbered the protest letters received by the PUC.
Like San Francisco, which has sued the PUC to curtail robotaxi expansion, Peninsula and Los Angeles officials say they want more input on how Waymo and other AV companies scale their operations.
San Mateo County Attorney John Nibbelin said the commission should “at minimum” hold an evidentiary hearing before voting on Waymo’s request. Nibbelin said county officials were caught off guard by Waymo’s Jan. 19 application, and a PUC decision “would be unjust and unreasonable without time and a forum for additional input from local stakeholders.”
A Waymo spokesperson told the Chronicle that company representatives consulted with officials in at least 12 cities, as well as three county supervisors and multiple emergency response agencies on the Peninsula.
Jarvis Murray, an administrator for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, said the state’s largest city also wants to delay a PUC decision — at least until state legislators decide the fate of a bill that would give cities local control over driverless ridehailing.
“Any expansion by Waymo will set a precedent for these companies and those looking to enter the marketplace to deploy without any rules or safeguards in place that were promulgated without meaningful coordination with local jurisdictions,” Murray said.
The commission has not set a date for a vote on Waymo’s request. Last year, the PUC delayed a similar vote for several months after sustained pushback from San Francisco officials, including the fire chief.
Notably, several bicyclist and pedestrian advocacy groups came out in support of Waymo’s expansion, describing Waymo’s robotaxis as more considerate drivers than humans.
The company made headlines in San Francisco this week after a Waymo vehicle struck a bicyclist in Potrero Hill. The cyclist suffered minor injuries after crossing into the robotaxi’s path at a four-stop intersection, according to Waymo.
“Waymo continuously puts in the work to be a safe and considerate road user with everyone, especially cyclists,” said Clarrissa Cabansagan, executive director of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, in a support letter. “As cyclists, we feel more comfortable on the road because Waymo vehicles give us wider berths and ample space when possible and appropriate as they pass.”