Urbanize LA Daily | November 17, 2025

📰 What Happened: Waymo, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, announced the expansion of its driverless car service to freeways in major cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. This marks a significant step in the deployment of driverless technology, with the service initially available to a select group of users who sign up.

🔍 A Closer Look: The expansion onto freeways represents a complex challenge in the autonomous vehicle industry. Freeways require precise navigation and safety protocols due to higher speeds and traffic density. Waymo's move to test its service in these conditions highlights its confidence in the technology and readiness to address these challenges.

🧠 Why It Matters: Waymo's freeway expansion is a critical milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry, signaling progress in the integration of driverless cars into everyday transportation. Successful implementation could pave the way for broader adoption, impacting urban planning, traffic management, and the future landscape of public and private transportation.

The Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) project is a proposed zero-emission gondola that would connect Union Station to Dodger Stadium — giving fans a faster, smoother, stress-free ride to the ballpark. By taking up to 3,000 cars off the road before and after games, LA ART can help reduce congestion, improve air quality, and make game days easier for everyone.

Who Is the Gondola For?

• Workers: A dependable, affordable shortcut to and from work — no traffic, no delays, just a consistent ride you can count on.
• Neighbors: Cleaner air, safer streets, and less cut-through traffic in surrounding communities.
• Small Businesses: More foot traffic and more customers. LA ART can help bring energy back into neighborhood corridors, support existing businesses, and attract new ones.
• All Angelenos: Because mobility in L.A. should work for everyone — whether you're heading to work, out for dinner, or cheering on the Dodgers.

Your voice can help move this forward.

Send a pre-filled letter to your elected officials today and support a faster, cleaner, better way to get to Dodger Stadium.