Waymo Seeks To Bring Self-Driving Taxis To Illinois

In a bid to revolutionize urban transportation, Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is seeking to introduce self-driving taxis to Illinois. The company, already operational in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, aims to expand its services to the Land of Lincoln, but faces significant legal and safety hurdles.

Waymo’s ambitions in Illinois are clear, with the company actively advertising and encouraging residents to contact their legislators in support of its plans. According to Ethan Teicher, a Waymo spokesperson, the company is working closely with the legislature to determine the best path forward for enabling Illinois residents to access its technology.

The proposed expansion has gathered support from some lawmakers, including Illinois state representative, Mike Stephens. As the mayor of Rosemont, Stephens believes that self-driving vehicles could be an ideal solution for his 2. 5-square-mile town, which is home to O’Hare International Airport, the Allstate Arena, and several hotels.

Stephens has introduced a bill that would establish a pilot program, allowing self-driving vehicles to operate in Rosemont, surrounding suburbs, and Springfield. The bill, introduced during the spring legislative session, would require Waymo or other autonomous vehicle operators to submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the Illinois Department of Transportation.