Waymo says it's coming to Portland — but not to Forest Grove

Waymo, the self-driving taxi and tech company owned by Google parent Alphabet, announced Tuesday it was planning an expansion to Portland. The company's first step is to map the city with a version of its car that includes a human driver, and work with state and city officials to actually allow autonomous driving, Waymo said in a statement. With no date for a launch and an uncertain regulatory path to driverless cars carrying carless passengers, much uncertainty remains about the rollout. But one thing is clear: Waymo is not coming to Forest Grove. “Waymo is currently specifically in the city of Portland, not the suburbs,” a spokesperson for the company told News in the Grove Tuesday afternoon. The company says its driverless vehicle system, the Waymo Driver, demonstrates a 13x reduction in serious injury crashes in the cities it already operates in. But the technology is not without flaw. From ignoring police orders to getting trapped in a drive-thru to hitting a child, Waymo's cars and vehicles have made headlines for their foibles, too. “As a green transportation leader of one of the safest trucking companies in America, I’ve seen firsthand how emerging technology can transform safety for all road users,” said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. “We need every tool to help us meet our Vision Zero goals, and autonomous technology plays an increasingly important role in providing a safe, thriving, affordable multimodal transportation system.” The company said those interested in staying updated as the company rolls out in Portland can sign up online.