Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit owned by Google, said it will resume operations in Boston and begin a new operational phase in Sacramento as it expands its driverless vehicle initiatives.
In Boston, Waymo intends to leverage lessons from earlier trials to adapt its technology to the local driving environment. The company highlighted specific urban challenges it plans to address, including cobblestone surfaces, narrow alleyways, roundabouts, and turnpikes. Waymo also said it is validating its 6th-generation Waymo Driver in snowy cities to support fully autonomous operation in winter weather.
The company stressed that fully driverless service in Boston depends on a change in state law. Massachusetts has not yet legalized fully autonomous vehicles. Massachusetts State Representative Dan Cahill, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, said, "Our goal is to create a clear and consistent framework to ensure that any new technology on our roads meets established safety standards."
Advocacy groups welcomed Waymo's return. David Kingsbury, President of Bay State Council of the Blind, said, "The arrival of Waymo promises safer, more accessible transportation that will not discriminate, and will offer greater independence and greater convenience to thousands of Bostonians."
In Sacramento, Waymo will begin operations this week using manual driving of its all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. This initial phase is intended to let the Waymo Driver observe and learn Sacramento's unique road conditions prior to carrying public riders under autonomous mode.
Local officials expressed support for the expansion. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said, "Were excited to work with Waymo to expand mobility options that are designed with safety at their core." The initiative in Sacramento is aligned with the city's Vision Zero goals, which aim to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Waymo noted that data from its services in six major cities indicate improvements in road safety. The company framed the Sacramento launch and the Boston return as steps in scaling its autonomous vehicle operations while continuing to test performance across varied road and weather conditions.
Context and next steps
- Waymo will not offer fully driverless rides in Boston until Massachusetts legalizes fully autonomous vehicles.
- The Sacramento rollout begins with manually driven Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to let the system learn local conditions before transitioning to autonomous passenger service.
- Validation of the 6th-generation Waymo Driver in snowy cities is part of the companys broader effort to enable year-round autonomous operation.