New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to introduce legislation to effectively legalize robotaxis in the state, with a notable exception for New York City. Hochul announced the plan during her recent State of the State address, stating the legislation would advance the next phase of the state’s autonomous vehicle pilot program.
Specific details on the proposed legislation and its release timeline are currently sparse. However, a document outlining the governor’s proposals indicates an intent to expand the existing AV pilot program to allow for the limited deployment of commercial for-hire autonomous passenger vehicles outside of New York City. According to the document, companies seeking to operate robotaxi services commercially would need to submit applications demonstrating local support for AV deployment and adherence to the highest possible safety standards.
The terms “limited deployment” and “highest possible safety standards” are not explicitly defined. The document also does not detail how the state will track or judge a company’s safety record, though it notes multiple agencies would be involved, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, and the New York State Police. The governor’s office indicated more information will be shared in the executive budget proposal set for release on January 20.
The announcement was welcomed by Alphabet-owned Waymo. The company’s head of global public policy, Justin Kintz, called the proposal a transformative moment for New York’s transportation system. In a statement, Kintz expressed that Waymo’s demonstrably safe technology could pair with the state’s investments in traffic safety and congestion management to create a future where living in New York is safer, easier, and more accessible.
Waymo and other companies have faced challenges entering New York state for years. Current state law requires drivers to keep one hand on the wheel at all times, which is incompatible with fully driverless robotaxis. The state’s existing AV pilot program provides an exemption to this rule for testing and development, but significant hurdles remain, especially in New York City.
Last August, city regulators granted Waymo a permit to test up to eight of its vehicles in parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn with a human safety operator behind the wheel. This permit has been extended until March 31. However, even with this permit, Waymo cannot carry passengers or operate a commercial service without obtaining separate licenses from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission.
While legislation was introduced last year to create a framework for driverless operation, it has stalled in the state Senate’s transportation committee. Governor Hochul’s new proposal could potentially help overcome this legislative bottleneck.