State board affirms Waymo's expansion into LA

Published Jun 24, 2024 5:00 AM

A Waymo autonomous vehicle on Steiner Street in San Francisco, on November 17, 2023.

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Topline:

A regulatory board unanimously reaffirmed Waymo's ability to operate its driverless taxi service in Los Angeles, just days after a bill that would have let local governments regulate the driverless cars stalled in the state legislature.

Why it matters: Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, has been expanding its operations on the Westside and Central L.A. for the past several months. After a free pilot period, the company is now charging customers for rides, though there is still a waitlist to use the app.

Why now: The California Public Utilities Commission had approved the company's expansion in March. In a meeting last week, the board stood by its call.

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How L.A. officials are responding: By and large, cities and municipalities where Waymo is operating want more regulatory power over the driverless cars, and L.A. is no exception. Mayor Karen Bass has warned of potential "adverse impacts on the residents of Los Angeles" if the city doesn't gain more oversight over the cars' operation.

Can local agencies regulate the cars?: They don't have very much power to do so now — driverless cars are largely regulated by the CPUC and Department of Motor Vehicles, not by local jurisdictions. A bill that would have given cities more ability to impose regulations on driverless cars was withdrawn after stalling in committee earlier this week.

Where is Waymo operating?: The company is currently operating on the Westside and Central L.A., between Santa Monica and downtown L.A. The company got the go-ahead to operate its driverless vehicles under 65 mph on freeways, but it's still sticking to surface streets for customers for now.

The boundaries of Waymo's operating area, roughly between Santa Monica and downtown L.A., from the Pacific Ocean to the L.A. River. Some main northern boundaries are San Vicente Blvd. in Santa Monica, Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and Beverly Blvd. near downtown. The main southern boundaries are Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica, National Blvd. in Culver City, and Exposition Blvd. in most of Central L.A.

Go deeper: Read more about the current regulations on Waymo vehicles here.