Arizona city first to integrate Waymo AVs into transit

Chandler, a city of 280,000 people on the edge of Phoenix, will become the first municipality to integrate Waymo’s autonomous vehicles directly into its public transit system this Autumn.

The deployment will add driverless cars to Chandler Flex, the city’s demand-responsive microtransit service. The initiative is seen as an important test of how AVs can be integrated into everyday public transport in mid-sized cities, moving beyond small pilots or private-sector schemes.

Via, which provides the technology behind Chandler Flex, said the city’s launch is intended as a model that other municipalities can adapt.

“Via’s platform integrates AVs seamlessly into the public transit network for agencies of all sizes,” a Via spokesperson told Cities Today. “The partnership between Waymo and Via enables other cities to easily introduce this same model to their networks.”

When the programme begins, users booking Chandler Flex rides will have the option of being matched with a Waymo vehicle. Chandler Flex already operates as an on-demand system, using algorithms to pool multiple passengers into a single vehicle which adapt to passenger demand in real time.

Waymo’s cars will be folded into this model through Via’s scheduling engine, which matches passengers to vehicles based on their specific journey needs. The goal is to demonstrate how AVs can function within the practical requirements of a city fleet, rather than running in isolation from other modes.

“[We] bring government expertise and the technology platform to facilitate AV adoption,” the spokesperson added. “Our routing technology will incorporate Waymo’s vehicles into an existing fleet. Via’s operating software will enable any city or agency to seamlessly monitor service performance, and meet US federal funding, compliance, and accessibility reporting requirements.”

Financing remains a key consideration for governments exploring AVs. Via argued that costs will be easier to manage if autonomous vehicles are integrated into wider networks.

“We believe that AVs are most efficient when they are part of public transit,” they said. “Technology that helps facilitate the integration of AVs into transit systems will eventually bring down costs, helping governments use tax dollars effectively.”

Kevin Hartke, Mayor of Chandler, said the city’s Flex service has already provided nearly 120,000 rides, and that bringing in Waymo’s AVs is intended to expand mobility options while continuing its push for forward-looking transport solutions.

“Chandler has always been a hub for innovation, and we’re proud to be the first city to bring Waymo’s AVs into our public transit network,” he said.

Image: Waymo