Waymo Expands to Bay Area Freeways and San José Airport Service

Waymo will begin operating its autonomous vehicles on Bay Area freeways starting Wednesday, marking a shift beyond its previous focus on city streets. The company confirmed that its robotaxis will now be available for travel along highways in the region, including for trips between San Francisco and San José.

The expansion also includes a new 24/7 curbside pickup and drop-off service at San José Mineta International Airport. This airport addition aims to improve access for passengers traveling to and from one of the Bay Area’s busiest transportation hubs. According to Waymo, the rides will be available in fully autonomous vehicles without a human driver present.

The push into freeway travel represents a significant technical and regulatory milestone for the company. Until now, Waymo’s service area in the Bay Area has been limited to surface streets in parts of San Francisco and select neighborhoods in the South Bay. Highway speeds, lane changes, and merging traffic pose additional complexities that differ from urban driving conditions.

Eligible riders in the test program can now request trips between San Francisco and San José using the Waymo app. The company did not disclose how many vehicles will be active on freeways or freeway-concurrent routes, nor which specific highway segments are included initially.

Waymo has operated in San Francisco since 2021 in a limited capacity and began charging for rides in parts of the city in August 2023. Its freeway launch follows approval from the California Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles, which allows Waymo to run fully driverless vehicles at any time of day across wider geographies.

The extension to freeway use and airport service comes as Waymo continues to scale commercial operations in competitive markets. General Motors-backed Cruise, once a major player in the area, paused its operations in October following a pedestrian injury incident in San Francisco. With less immediate competition, Waymo is moving to solidify its footprint in both urban and long-distance travel corridors across the Bay Area.

Waymo says it is gradually inviting new riders to the program and continues to evaluate safety performance based on real-world driving data. The company has not yet announced when the highway features will be universally available to Bay Area riders.

With freeway access and airport service now part of the offering, Waymo is positioning itself more firmly in the regional transportation ecosystem. Riders will now have an option to travel between major cities and transit hubs without a human driver, potentially changing how automated services are used for daily commutes and long-distance travel.