Robotaxi Atlas

Lit clusters: US cities with public driverless rides. Rings: testing or announced.

Can I ride a robotaxi in Boston?

Waymo is testing here (since Feb 5, 2026), with no public rides.

Status
Testing
Operators
Waymo
Last checked

Operators in Boston

  • Waymo
    Testing

    Since Feb 5, 2026: Waymo announced it was returning to Boston for manual testing.

What's happening in Boston

Waymo said on Feb 5, 2026 that it was returning to Boston for manual testing, The Boston Globe reported, and urged legislators to clear a path for autonomous vehicles. Its cars here have a human driving and carry no public riders. Waymo calls Boston "Up Next" and has no launch date.

Two layers of rules stand in front of any service. Massachusetts has no law authorizing driverless operation, though a bill, H.3634, is pending. At the city level, a union-backed Boston City Council ordinance on autonomous vehicles was heard in July and October 2025. TLI Magazine and Boston.com reported that it could require human safety operators, and no vote on it has been reported. The Boston rules page follows both.

Until either one moves, Boston remains a testing city. The nearest public rides are a long way south, in Atlanta and Nashville. Closer to home, New York City, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh haven't opened to riders either.

Rules that apply here

  • Boston rules: A union-backed Boston City Council ordinance on autonomous vehicles, which could require human safety operators, had hearings in July and Oct 2025. No vote has been published. Massachusetts has no driverless framework, and H.3634 is pending. (reported)

Timeline

  1. Waymo said it was returning to Boston for manual testing. Reported. Source

Boston robotaxi questions

When will Waymo launch in Boston?

Waymo has no launch date for Boston. It returned for manual testing in February 2026, and Massachusetts has no law authorizing driverless operation.

Is a driverless taxi legal in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has no law authorizing driverless operation. A bill, H.3634, is pending.

Would Boston require a human in robotaxis?

A proposed Boston City Council ordinance could require human safety operators, according to TLI Magazine and Boston.com. It was heard in July and October 2025, and no vote has been reported.

Are Waymo cars in Boston right now?

Waymo has cars in Boston for testing. People drive them manually, and they do not take public riders.

Sources

  1. Waymo: Waymo Updates
  2. The Boston Globe: Waymo is returning to Boston for testing, urges legislators to clear path for autonomous vehicles, Feb 5, 2026
  3. Boston.com: Waymo wants to expand into Boston. Massachusetts law isn't ready., Feb 6, 2026

"Reported" means one news report that the operator or a regulator hasn't confirmed yet.

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