A Waymo autonomous vehicle is shown in San Francisco, Jan. 23, 2026.
Jeff Chiu / AP
The self-driving car company Waymo has set its sights on Portland.
In a blog post, the Silicon Valley company said it’s begun mapping out Portland streets in preparation for bringing its fully autonomous taxis to the city.
“We aim to eventually provide both lifelong residents and first-time visitors with a safe, reliable, and stress-free way to move through the city,” the post reads.
The city says the company will need a permit before operating driverless cars on Portland streets.
Waymo, owned by Google parent company Alphabet, operates self-driving taxis in 11 U.S. cities and has begun testing the program in 21 more, including Seattle. The company first announced its interest in expanding to Portland last year, news that sparked policymaking action at the state and local level.
At the state Legislature, a bill to regulate autonomous vehicles failed to advance out of committee earlier this year. But the Portland Bureau of Transportation has been working on updating administrative rules around self-driving cars for months. PBOT just finished collecting public feedback on the new policy. According to PBOT spokesperson Hannah Schafer, “staff are currently reviewing and preparing a second draft with updates based on the feedback and will work with city leadership on next steps.”
Under current draft language, a self-driving car must obtain a permit to operate in Portland. That process requires cars meet safety requirements, be insured, and include accommodations for passengers with disabilities, among other standards.
A Waymo spokesperson said the company won’t operate in Portland until they’ve received a permit to do so.
A representative from the nonprofit Disability Rights Oregon called the Waymo news an “exciting step for accessible transportation.”
But the advocacy group said that excitement will only happen “only if the City Council holds Waymo and others accountable to their promises. Autonomous vehicles must reliably recognize wheelchair users in crosswalks, and accessible options must be a guarantee, not just a PR talking point.”
Several city councilors have expressed opposition and concern with allowing driverless cars on Portland streets. Council Vice President Olivia Clark, who previously worked for TriMet, called the notion “kind of disturbing” at a February legislative hearing. Councilor Mitch Green has said in a social media post that he “doesn’t support” Waymo’s expansion to Portland.
In a press release sent by Waymo, Mayor Keith Wilson shared a different perspective.
“As a green transportation leader of one of the safest trucking companies in America, I’ve seen firsthand how emerging technology can transform safety for all road users,” said Wilson, alluding to his previous job as CEO of Titan Freight Systems.
Wilson said autonomous technology like Waymo could help the city meet its goals to reduce the number traffic-related deaths in Portland to zero – a mission called Vision Zero.
According to Waymo’s own data, Waymo cars have been involved in 92% fewer serious crashes compared to human drivers in the cities where they operate. But Waymo cars have also introduced new problems, like obstructing emergency vehicles, driving through crime scenes and creating their own traffic jams.
It’s not clear how soon Waymo vehicles could appear on Portland streets. PBOT’s Schafer said that based on conversations with other cities that have Waymo, “PBOT understands that Waymo typically spends several months mapping with a fleet of about 10-12 vehicles.”
