The company’s autonomous taxis will soon be available in most parts of the metro area including Tempe, Mesa, and a new airport pick-up location.
The Phoenix metropolitan area is now home to the largest contiguous autonomous car service area in the world, reports Corina Vanek for Arizona Republic, after the company doubled its coverage area last week. The company also plans to grow its Phoenix-area fleet with an unspecified number of vehicles.
The expansion connects a 40-square-mile coverage area and a 50-square-mile coverage area, creating a 180-square-mile service zone. The area now includes most of Tempe and parts of Old Town Scottsdale and Mesa. “So far, the vehicles only provide autonomous rides on freeways to Waymo employees with a specialist present, a company spokesperson said. Employees are providing feedback about freeway travel before the company rolls out freeway trips to the public.”
Waymo and other autonomous car operators and manufacturers such as Cruise and Tesla are facing backlash and federal investigations for deploying their vehicles on public streets before the technology is fully vetted and for misleading marketing. Phoenix residents have observed Waymo cars idling on neighborhood streets or stalled in traffic, while San Francisco’s Waymo fleet has had multiple run-ins with emergency personnel and law enforcement, with city officials calling the situation ‘mayhem’ in a letter to the state. Meanwhile, driverless cars raise ethical questions about AV testing and responsibility in crashes and other incidents.
FULL STORY: Metro Phoenix now has world's largest self-driving car service zone after Waymo expansion
San Francisco Officials Want to Put the Brakes on Self-Driving Taxis
Local officials say autonomous cars are not yet safe enough to be permanently deployed across the entire city.
How Self-Driving Cars Are Integrating—or Not—Into the Urban Fabric
As they become more common on some U.S. streets, autonomous vehicles are impeding emergency response operations and blocking traffic, idling in neighborhoods, and defying law enforcement.
Waymo Robotaxis Often Fail to Stop for Pedestrians
One journalist recorded more than a dozen instances of Waymo autonomous cars speeding by when he tried to cross the street.
A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes
Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
What Trump’s Executive Orders Mean for US Housing Programs
Orders related to DEI and accessibility, among others, may threaten housing programs for those who need them most.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research