New York Governor Kathy Hochul wants to open the rest of the state to driverless taxis while keeping Manhattan and the five boroughs off-limits.
At a Glance
- Hochul will propose legislation to legalize commercial robotaxis outside New York City
- Companies must show “local support” and meet “highest possible safety standards”
- Alphabet’s Waymo praised the plan; the firm already has a testing permit in NYC that runs through March 31
- Why it matters: Suburban and upstate residents could soon hail autonomous rides, but the state’s largest market remains closed for now
The governor revealed the initiative Tuesday during her State of the State address, framing it as the next step in New York’s autonomous-vehicle pilot program. A briefing document circulated after the speech says the bill would allow “the limited deployment of commercial for-hire autonomous passenger vehicles outside New York City.”
No text of the legislation has been released yet. The governor’s office told News Of Philadelphia that fuller details will appear in Hochul’s executive-budget proposal on January 20.
What the Proposal Requires
Operators that want to run paid robotaxi services upstate or on Long Island will have to file applications proving two things:
- Local governments or communities back the rollout
- Vehicles and operations meet “the highest possible safety standards”
The document does not define “limited deployment,” spell out safety metrics, or explain how compliance will be judged. Oversight would involve:
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- Department of Transportation
- New York State Police
Current state law requires a licensed driver to keep at least one hand on the wheel, effectively banning fully autonomous trips. The existing pilot already waives that rule for testing, and the new bill would extend the exemption to revenue service everywhere except New York City.
Industry Reaction
Waymo, which has tested in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn under a human-safety-driver permit since last August, welcomed the news.
“Governor Hochul’s proposal to legalize fully autonomous vehicles is a transformative moment for New York’s transportation system,” said Justin Kintz, Waymo’s head of global public policy.
He argued that pairing the state’s traffic-calming and congestion-pricing efforts with Waymo’s technology “creates a future where living in New York is safer, easier, and more accessible.”
The company’s current city permit, capped at eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, has been extended until March 31. Even with the waiver, Waymo cannot carry paying passengers in the five boroughs without separate licenses from the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Legislative Hurdles Ahead
A bill introduced last year to create a statewide framework for driverless operation has stalled in the Senate Transportation Committee. Hochul’s new push could break the logjam, though it expressly excludes the market where demand-and regulatory complexity-is highest.
Suburban and upstate officials will soon weigh whether to invite robotaxis. The forthcoming budget proposal is expected to clarify:
- Caps on fleet size
- Insurance requirements
- Data-sharing mandates
- Penalties for safety lapses
Until those details emerge, companies eager to expand beyond California and Arizona will watch Albany for the next signal.
