Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
California Gives Waymo The Green Light To Start Charging For Rides in LA

The driverless ride-hailing company Waymo has just cleared a major regulatory hurdle to expand in Los Angeles: It can now start charging for rides, and it's allowed to drive up to 65 mph on freeways.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates self-driving cars as well as ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber, gave the go-ahead to Waymo in a decision Friday.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, has not announced when they will start charging for rides or when the cars will start driving on freeways. In a Feb. 29 interview with TechCrunch, Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana said that the company is planning to expand their operations in Los Angeles but didn't give a timeline.
Where things stand
Waymo has been testing out its cars across Los Angeles and Santa Monica as part of a pilot program since last fall. The company also operates in Austin, San Francisco and Phoenix.
Local government agencies in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, including the L.A. Department of Transportation, submitted letters to the CPUC opposing the expansion.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, one of the voices arguing against the expansion of driverless cars without local regulations, said that without input from the local government, driverless cars will have "adverse impacts on the residents of Los Angeles."
"To date, local jurisdictions like Los Angeles have had little to no input in [autonomous vehicle] deployment and are already seeing significant harm and disruption," Bass wrote in a statement to the CPUC in November.
What opponents and supporters are saying
In her letter opposing Waymo's expansion, Bass cited incidents involving Waymo vehicles in San Francisco, including the cars blocking firehouse driveways, creating traffic backups by stopping on one-way streets, and parking on top of a fire hose at an active fire scene.
Meanwhile, organizations like the Los Angeles Business Council and the Pico Union Project submitted letters to the CPUC supporting the expansion of Waymo's services.
Waymo responded by saying that they did hold meetings with local officials and followed the state's regulatory process, according to the CPUC's report.
The CPUC—the same agency that deals with things like water, power and methane gas—is currently one of the main government agencies regulating autonomous vehicles along with the DMV, though that may change if a new bill passes. Senate Bill 915, which was first introduced in 2023, would allow cities to impose their own restrictions on the controversial driverless vehicles.
For their part, the Teamsters have voiced their support for SB 915 and called for greater safety measures in self-driving cars.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
-
The budget gap has led to a tuition hike, along with spending cuts and fewer course offerings. At the same time, generative AI already has transformed higher ed — including post-grad job prospects.
-
The construction work is part of a $143.7 million plan to rehabilitate pavement between Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass.