Mayor Lurie Welcomes Autonomous Vehicles To Market Street As Part of Revitalization of Downtown San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today took a major step in San Francisco’s downtown revitalization efforts, announcing that autonomous vehicles will soon begin operating on Market Street, the city’s main thoroughfare. Waymo will begin mapping the corridor in the coming days, with passenger service expected to launch as soon as this summer.

Waymo’s arrival on Market Street will complement the city’s existing transportation options, including Muni, biking, and taxis, and will make it easier for residents, workers, and visitors to access the shops, theaters, hotels, and restaurants that anchor San Francisco’s downtown economy. Waymo vehicles on Market Street will also advance San Francisco’s longstanding legacy as a hub of transportation innovation and support the evolution of Market Street, which is central to downtown and the city’s recovery.

“Market Street runs through the heart of our city, and we’re making sure it continues to evolve with the times,” said Mayor Lurie. “By welcoming Waymo, we’re adding another safe and sustainable way to access shopping, theaters, hotels, and restaurants. This is about revitalizing downtown and making it easier for everyone, locals and visitors alike, to enjoy everything our city has to offer.”

Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors are taking major steps to revitalize the city’s downtown and support local businesses. This week, the mayor joined partners on the board to introduce legislation to create five new entertainment zones across the city. Last month, he and Supervisor Stephen Sherrill announced legislation to renew the First Year Free Program, which has helped thousands of small businesses open their doors by waiving fees in their first year. In February, Mayor Lurie launched PermitSF to reform and streamline the city’s permitting processes, cutting red tape for small businesses and housing development. He also partnered with State Senator Scott Wiener to introduce state legislation to create new, more affordable liquor licenses and bring new restaurants and bars to downtown San Francisco.

Dating back to the 1800s and throughout San Francisco’s history, Market Street has served as a main route to and from the city’s downtown economic core. The corridor has undergone transformative changes since it was originally surveyed in 1843, including the introduction of cable cars, reconstruction following the great 1906 earthquake, and the addition of underground service.

“We are thrilled that San Franciscans have embraced Waymo in their daily lives since our commercial launch in the city in 2023, and we’re encouraged that the Waymo Driver is already making roads safer where we operate. Every week residents and visitors alike take tens of thousands of trips across the city to work, to shop, to the doctor’s office, or even for date night—often in combination with one of the many other modes of transportation available in San Francisco,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO, Waymo. “We’re honored that Mayor Lurie has invited us to serve as a mobility option on San Francisco’s historic Market Street.”

Muni ridership continued to grow significantly in 2024 with 158 million total passenger trips, reflecting an increase of 13.5 million trips compared to 2023. In 2024, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) saw the largest increase in ridership since 2019, reaching 75% of 2019 levels with monthly recovery peaking at 78% in September. Muni also received the highest customer ratings since 2021.

Waymo will begin mapping the Market Street corridor in the coming days with human autonomous vehicle specialists behind the wheel. Fully autonomous passenger service is expected to launch as early as this summer. Throughout the process, the city and Waymo will work collaboratively to maintain safety and accessibility, while maintaining reliable and efficient Muni service along Market Street.

“Our number one goal is to ensure all transportation options continue to move safely, reliably, and efficiently along the Market Street corridor,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum. “We are continuously trying new things and making adjustments where we need to, and because of this, Muni is seeing significant improvements to service reliability, customer satisfaction at its highest, and a continued surge in growth for ridership recovery. We look forward to working with Mayor Lurie and Waymo as a collaborative partner to build on the mayor’s vision to revitalize our city and to strengthen Muni’s momentum.”

“Access to some of our city's most beloved institutions, restaurants, performance halls, and shopping destinations is one of the most crucial elements of the continued revitalization of downtown San Francisco,” said Rodney Fong, President and CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. “Waymo’s inclusion as a mode of transportation to these destinations will be a great addition to strengthen the area’s appeal and economy.”

“As an organization that has proudly called Market Street our home for nine years, we are delighted that Waymo’s accessible and safe transportation option will soon be available to our clients, staff, and volunteers as they come and go each day from our LightHouse headquarters. This will undoubtedly be a game-changer for our students, especially for those who attend weekly programs and classes,” said Brandon Cox, CEO, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Francisco. “Furthermore, as a proud member of the Waymo Accessibility Network, we know the importance of connecting people safely and independently to their communities and the important role that autonomous vehicles play in doing so.”