After launching pilot programs in San Francisco and Phoenix, the company says it is ready to begin deploying its autonomous vehicles on Los Angeles streets.

Alphabet-owned Waymo plans to expand its autonomous fleet to Los Angeles, reports Russ Mitchell for the Los Angeles Times. After three years of mapping the city, Waymo says the company is ready to test its robot taxi service on L.A. roads.
Waymo is conducting pilot programs with and without backup drivers in Phoenix and San Francisco. “To charge for rides, Waymo must obtain a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission. The company declined to discuss pricing plans, but in Phoenix its fares are roughly comparable to those of Uber and Lyft.” General Motors, Ford, and Hyundai are running their own autonomous taxi pilot programs in other cities.
Companies in the autonomous vehicle industry, which have spent around $75 billion on product development so far, are starting to lose stock value as regulatory approval and widespread adoption of the technology remain elusive. Petitions from Ford and General Motors to exempt autonomous vehicles from certain safety features have met with opposition from safety advocates who say the automakers are cutting corners and could endanger passengers and pedestrians.
FULL STORY: Waymo says it’s bringing robotaxis to L.A.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie