San Francisco moves to next phase of Waymo operations

San Francisco is moving forward with a new phase of mobility innovation on its most iconic thoroughfare, as the city begins a limited roll-out of autonomous passenger services from Waymo, Uber, and Lyft along Market Street. 

The pilot is designed to expand access while supporting the city’s ongoing efforts to bring residents, workers, and visitors back downtown. Under the plan, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will oversee an evaluation of autonomous rides and premium rideshare pickups along the corridor. Waymo will operate during daytime and off-peak hours, while Uber Black and Lyft Black will operate overnight services. Pick-ups and drop-offs will be limited to seven designated loading zones, including near IKEA, the Warfield Theatre, and Trinity Place. 

Mayor Lurie is taking major steps to revitalise the city’s downtown, with innovation and creativity at the centre of Market Street’s revitalisation – including supporting the Urban Land Institute and Civic Joy Fund’s ‘Market Street Reimagined’ ideas competition. Hotel room bookings associated with events at the Moscone convention centre increased nearly 70 per cent from 2024, while the PermitSF initiative is cutting red tape for businesses and helping them grow. The mayor is also keeping downtown safe, with overall crime down more than 40 per cent in Union Square and the financial district. 

“The Market Street corridor is key to our cities recovery, and by thoughtfully expanding transportation options, we’re going to bring residents and visitors back to enjoy everything Market Street has to offer,” said Mayor Lurie.

SFMTA will ensure all modes of transportation are safe and efficient. The city will monitor municipal operations, traffic conditions, safety incidents, plus Waymo, Uber Black, and Lyft Black’s performance through shared data and on-street observations.