Self-Driving Rideshare Cars Hit Philadelphia Streets

PHILADELPHIA — Self-driving vehicles are hitting the streets of Philadelphia.

Autonomous driving technology company Waymo recently announced it is launching service in Philadelphia.

The commercial robotaxi company came to Philly over the summer. After a period of manual testing, Waymo recently shifted to autonomous testing with specialists behind the wheel.

The company said it will continue to validate the Waymo Driver’s capabilities in Philadelphia before moving to fully autonomous operations and public launch in the future.

For now, Waymo is only operating in the "downtown core" of Philadelphia, a representative told Patch. The company said over time it will expand to a larger area "as things progress in the city."

However, Waymo said it will not operate in New Jersey, despite its proximity to Philadelphia, as the law is currently unclear on the company's ability to operate fully autonomously in the state.

Waymo officials plan to continue to meet with Philadelphia's communities to learn more about how it can support the city’s transportation goals.

"With Waymo’s support, we can grow our programs and create more opportunities for friendship, jobs, and leadership development—helping build a more inclusive community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Samantha Civitate, Best Buddies State Director for Pennsylvania, said. "Accessible transportation remains a vital piece of fostering independence and inclusion."

The Waymo app is available on the Apple Store here and the Google Play Store here.