Waymo, in partnership with Uber, has significantly expanded its autonomous vehicle service area in Austin.
The service territory has more than doubled, growing from 37 square miles to 90 square miles. This expansion extends the coverage to new neighborhoods in North and South Austin, including Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley, and Franklin Park. Additionally, destinations like The Domain and McKinney Falls State Park are now included within the service area.
The expansion aims to provide fully autonomous rides across a wider range of locations in Austin. Currently, over 100 Waymo vehicles are operating on the Uber platform in the city, with expectations for that number to grow considerably in the future.
Waymo offers a 24/7 service without waitlists.
City officials are working with autonomous vehicle companies to ensure safe navigation on city streets. Texas law gives the city limited ability to regulate autonomous vehicles. However, a new law passed by the Texas Legislature will create a permitting system between the Texas DMV and AV operators, though enforcement is not expected to begin until early next year.
Waymo’s Austin expansion is occurring alongside its service in other major US cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and the company is also launching in Atlanta. Waymo’s vehicles have driven over 100 million fully autonomous miles without a human driver. While passengers can choose the self-driving car option in the Uber app, the app’s algorithm determines whether a human-driven car or a Waymo is sent, depending on factors such as availability and route efficiency.
For example, Waymo doesn’t currently carry passengers on freeways like I-35 or MoPac Expressway.
The city said driverless cars are still struggling to follow police officers’ hand signals in traffic.
The city is also working with state regulators, CapMetro, Austin ISD, and UT Austin about how to deal with self-driving cars.
The city’s Mobility Committee met Thursday at City Hall where an update was presented on the operation of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Austin, noting significant recent changes and rapid industry growth, with companies deploying commercially available rides in addition to testing.
District 4 Council Member Chito Vela stated that Austin is at the “epicenter of a fascinating global experiment” with these vehicles. District 9 Council Member Zo Qadri mentioned that a planned meeting with Tesla to discuss Robotaxis did not occur.
City officials are considering mailing traffic tickets to registered vehicle owners instead of placing them on a windshield. The current system of placing parking citations on windshields creates safety risks for officers due to potential confrontations with angry drivers.
A pedestrian was hospitalized early Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle in South Austin.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD) Watch Command, authorities received a call reporting the collision around 3:09 a.m. The incident occurred on the I-35 service road at Slaughter Lane. (CBS Austin)
Austin firefighters responded to a house fire in East Austin last night.
Austin city officials are urgently appealing to the federal government to reinstate $50 million in flood mitigation funding. This critical funding was rescinded just weeks before deadly storms deluged Central Texas.
On Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson sent a formal letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson, requesting the immediate restoration of these vital funds. (CBS Austin)
Meanwhile, a tenth victim of the July 4 flooding in Travis County has been confirmed.
“The number of people we have missing is starting to match the number of bodies that have been recovered. They have not all been positively identified yet, but there is strong potential that we may have recovered all of the missing people reported in Travis County,” — Kristen Dark, PIO with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sandy Creek area near Leander was among the hardest hit areas of Travis County.
Construction is to begin Monday on the Cow Creek Bridge.
Local volunteers say they need more help.
A new initiative has been launched to provide financial assistance to those in Travis County impacted, whether they have flood insurance or not.
Texas country music icons Lyle Lovett and Michael Martin Murphey are teaming up for a special benefit concert to support recovery efforts in the Hill Country and greater Central Texas, following the devastating July 4 floods.
The “Song in the Storm: Heart of Texas Flood Benefit” will feature performances by Lovett and Murphey, alongside special guests Andy Hedges and Jimmie Vaughan. The concert is scheduled for August 12 at the Paramount Theatre. All proceeds will directly benefit the Central Texas Flood Recovery Fund.
A Taylor man was sentenced to over 40 years in prison for possession of cocaine. (FOX 7 Austin)
A man was arrested and charged with capital murder after killing a man and stealing his car this past weekend.
This week’s Crime Watch from FOX 7 Austin reports on multiple businesses in East Austin, including a restaurant and plant store, that have been burglarized by the same thief, who was captured on surveillance footage stealing items worth less than $50 while causing significant damage.
The Austin Police Department on Thursday revealed pickpocketing crime in Austin has been reduced by half when comparing June 2025 to June 2024. (KXAN-TV)
A new study by national crime data expert Jeff Asher reveals that Austin police officers took an average of just over 45 minutes to respond to 911 calls last year. This analysis highlights a consistent increase in the department’s average response times over the past five years, nearly doubling from 29 minutes in 2019 to almost 47 minutes last year. (Austin Monitor)
On Thursday, the University of Texas announced that William Inboden has been named its Executive Vice President and Provost. He will also hold the William Powers Jr. chair and a joint faculty appointment with the Department of History and the School of Civic Leadership. (KVUE-TV)
Austin city officials are weighing a proposal to support a new hotel and convention center at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The developer has indicated that city involvement is crucial for the project’s economic viability. This resort-style development is envisioned to enhance COTA‘s existing operations, particularly benefiting the major racing events and concerts held at the complex. A key next step for the project is securing a high-profile hotel brand to anchor the development. (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Gov. Greg Abbott has activated state emergency response resources ahead of a tropical disturbance moving along the Gulf that is expected to bring heavy rain and threats of flash flooding to Texas. (Chron)
At its peak on July 4, the Guadalupe River was moving an estimated 150,000 cubic feet of water every second—more than 4,200 tons. (AccuWeather)
As Texans start to rebuild after the floods, many face the reality of being uninsured. (KUT 90.5)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was joined by first responders and state lawmakers for a press conference on Texas’ response to severe flooding.
Recovery efforts for more than 100 missing people lost in the deadly July 4 floods in the Texas Hill Country continued this week. (KUT 90.5)
The man who said he helped Kerr County implement an emergency alert system in his former role there as information technology director is now calling on top leaders to step down following a flash flood that killed more than 100 people.
Kerr County commissioners are scheduled to meet on July 28 to resume discussions on a possible property tax hike to pay for flood recovery, which has generated some local protests. (Texas Public Radio)
Attorney General Ken Paxton said he is launching an investigation into fraudulent scams that targeted donations for personal use, which were meant to assist rescue operations during the devastating floods that ripped through Central Texas.
70+ drivers called 911 in San Antonio after getting trapped in floodwaters, resulting in eleven deaths and two injuries from deadly flash flooding on June 12.
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued an adult swimming organization Thursday for allowing transgender athletes to race in a San Antonio competition in April, claiming it constituted “misleading” business practice. (Texas Tribune via MSN)
A stolen Camaro crashed into a small bus on I-35 in Bexar County yesterday, resulting in four deaths and 16 injuries, including children.
Up to 1.7 million Texans are expected to lose their health insurance through coming changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace under Republicans’ tax and spending megabill, according to an analysis by health policy experts — a serious blow to a state health care system already strained by the highest uninsured rate in the nation. (Texas Tribune)
The FBI has accused two individuals of aiding Benjamin Song, the suspect in the July 4 ICE facility ambush, by providing clothing, shelter, and financial assistance to help him evade capture.
(Episode from July 17, 2025)
SPORTS
MLB: The four-day All-Star break has ended. The Houston Astros will now forge ahead for a division title in the second half of the season while the Texas Rangers struggle to get to the .500 mark with faint hopes of a Wild Card run.
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
The fascinating history of the Texas Cattle Drive, from its birth just after the civil war to its decline in the 1880’s.
