Waymo and Waze Partner to Fix Potholes

Waymo and Waze have announced a data-sharing pilot program that will help cities maintain safer streets. The partnership will funnel pothole data collected by Waymo's robotaxis to a free Waze platform designed for cities.

Cities Will Benefit from Pothole Data

The pilot program will focus on five initial markets: Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo has already identified about 500 potholes in these cities, and the partnership aims to expand reporting and verification.

• Cities won't be the only recipients of this data. Anyone with a Waze app in the cities where Waymo operates will also have access to this information.
• Waze users have already had the ability to report potholes to the app. The pilot program aims to augment and expand this reporting.

Robotaxis Ideal for Pothole Data Collection

Waymo's robotaxis are equipped with cameras, lidar, radar, and other sensors, making them ideal tools for collecting data on potholes and other roadway dangers. This is the first time a company has used robotaxis for this purpose.

"Waymo is showing the good neighbor principle in action: sharing data that helps cities fix problems faster and make streets safer for everyone," said Sarah Kaufman, Director of the New York University Rudin Center for Transportation.

Waymo's Expansion Plans

Waymo is expanding to more than 20 cities this year, and this partnership is expected to help the company build goodwill with cities. The pilot program will help fill reporting gaps and support cities' efforts to maintain safer streets.

Waymo's robotaxis are already operating commercially in 11 cities, and testing is underway in even more. The partnership is expected to expand to more cities over time.

Robotaxis will continue to collect data on potholes and other roadway dangers, helping cities maintain safer streets.