SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — City leaders in San Jose hope getting to and from the airport will never be easier ahead of the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup coming to town.
Waymo announced they will be operating at the San Jose Mineta International Airport later this year.
The autonomous vehicle is coming to the streets of the South Bay and the airport will be one of the first locations riders can utilize the service.
“We’re the first airport in the state of California to have Waymos coming online,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said. “They’re in testing right now, but we hope to see them go fully autonomous soon.”
Mahan anticipates Waymo to be ready ahead of what he calls “sportsageddon” in 2026, when the South Bay hosts the Super Bowl and World Cup.
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San Jose is expecting to bring in tens of thousands of people for these major sports events next year and Mahan says having mobility solutions for incoming guests is key.
“To conveniently get from point A to point B safely and efficiently, autonomous vehicles on demand will be a really important part of that experience for thousands of people,” Mahan said.
While Waymo won’t be rolling out here at the airport anytime soon, passengers we spoke with about the idea had overwhelmingly positive thoughts.
“I think it would be great, even if it were dropping you off somewhere closer to an exit that was easier for whoever was picking you up,” Jennifer Martin said.
“I like the idea of not having to call somebody else to come pick me up,” Nancy Jameson said.
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“There’s a lot of anxiety around travel for human beings,” Justine Barnett said. “So, if you had a car that didn’t have that anxiety and just focusing on the roads, I think it would be helpful.”
San Jose is already using new technology to make bus transportation more efficient – actually reducing the likelihood it hits a red light by up to 50%.
Waymo is the next step in using technology for public use.
“We want to open up city government to be a platform for innovation, to adopt the latest and greatest technology, apply it to public use cases and for startups, be perhaps their first customer if they’re solving a problem that helps us better serve our residents,” Mahan said.
This is another way the city is finding solutions and building a better San Jose through technology.
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