Big news for San Jose: Waymo, the innovative robotaxi company spun off from Google, is gearing up to bring its driverless ride-hailing service to town. The company has applied for final approval to operate across nearly all of San Jose, along with nearby areas like Campbell, Cupertino, and Los Gatos. This expansion has the enthusiastic backing of Mayor Matt Mahan and former mayor turned Congressman Sam Liccardo, who both see it as a game-changer for our community.
The San Jose metro is on the cusp of hosting some massive global events in 2026, like the FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl 60. With Waymo’s autonomous vehicles rolling through our streets, we’re poised to offer safe, reliable, and cutting-edge transportation options for residents, workers, and visitors alike. Every time I take a Waymo is seems to get better and better.
Downtown San Jose stands to gain a lot from this move too. The San Jose Downtown Association is all in, pointing out how Waymo can breathe new life into our city’s core. By bridging that tricky last-mile gap between transit stations and key spots like restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues, these driverless cars could help draw more people back to Downtown (especially if they become far cheaper than Uber/Lyft). It’s an exciting step toward making our urban center more accessible and vibrant, especially after the challenges of the past few years.
Safety is another huge plus. With human error behind most vehicle-crash deaths, autonomous technology offers a promising way to make our roads safer. Waymo’s track record and recent support from leaders across the Bay Area show that this isn’t just a futuristic dream; it’s a practical solution taking root right now. Plus, with Waymo already expanding down the Peninsula and eyeing service at San Francisco International Airport, San Jose is joining a region-wide wave of progress.
This is more than just a new way to get around—it’s a chance for San Jose to lead the way in transportation innovation. It won't eliminate public transit but compliment it. My last Waymo was to get from Caltrain to my final destination in SF, and I can see that use case providing even more value to San Joseans going to areas with limited (or no) transit options.
