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Waymo Secures Regulatory Approval to Expand Driverless Rides Across San Jose & Peninsula

June 13, 2026 at 07:43 AM EST
Vetted by Chamindu Ransika
100% Fact-Checked
Waymo Secures Regulatory Approval to Expand Driverless Rides Across San Jose & Peninsula

Silicon Valley Connected by Autonomous Transit

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, has secured a landmark regulatory approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The decision permits the company to expand its commercial Waymo One robotaxi service across the entire San Francisco Peninsula, connecting San Francisco directly to San Jose, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale.

Scaling Up Commercial Operations

With this approval, Waymo is expanding its operating zone to include over 150 square miles of dense suburban and highway routes.
  • Highway Access: The expansion will include fully driverless trips on US-101 and I-280 corridors, carrying passengers at speeds up to 65 mph without a safety driver.
  • Airport Connections: Waymo is finalizing agreements to offer curbside pick-up and drop-off at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) by late June.
  • Fleet Volume: Over 300 additional Jaguar I-PACE autonomous vehicles will be added to the Silicon Valley fleet to meet demand.
  • Safety Metrics and Public Support

    Waymo's public safety reports show that its driverless fleet has driven over 20 million miles with an 85% lower rate of injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers. The CPUC expansion approval came after widespread support from local accessibility advocates and business groups, cementing robotaxis as a core component of California's transit infrastructure.

    Vetted News References

    This article was compiled by evaluating and fact-checking primary sources to ensure absolute truth and avoid any speculative hallucinations.

    Read Official Source: Waymo News Blog
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