Los Angeles is turning to robotaxis in an effort to tackle the city’s crater-riddled streets — as years of battered pavement and slow repairs have left drivers dodging hazards across thousands of miles of roadway.
Waymo and Waze have teamed up on a pilot program that uses self-driving vehicles to identify potholes and share that data with city officials, according to a news release from the autonomous taxi company.
The move taps Waymo’s autonomous fleet to detect damaged roads, with the information then fed into Waze’s traffic data-sharing platform to help flag trouble sports and alert drivers approaching rough pavement, according to the press release.
Waymo is partnering with Waze to use their autonomous vehicles to track potholes in major cities. The move comes after a surge in pothole complaints earlier this year — following a rainy season that soaked Southern California.
Residents reported more than 6,700 potholes in January alone, with nearly 5,000 additional complaints filed in both February and March through the city’s 311 system, according to data analyzed by nonprofit newsroom Crosstown LA.
City officials have struggled to keep up with road repairs across Los Angeles’ sprawling 23,000-mile street network.
Just 310 miles of road were repaired during fiscal year 2025 — a steep drop from roughly 850 miles paved in 2015, according to Crosstown LA. The year prior, only 216 miles of lanes were resurfaced.
The Bureau of Street Services, which oversees road maintenance, is in communication with Waymo regarding the pilot program, spokesperson Dan Halden told the Los Angeles Times.
“The bureau proactively manages the city’s streets, ensuring roadways are treated not only for repair but also to strengthen the street network and prevent future potholes,” Halden told the outlet.
Los Angeles residents reported over 6,700 potholes in January alone. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Officials say relying solely on residents to report potholes through the city’s 311 system can leave gaps in identifying road damage.
Waymo and Waze say the program aims to create a more comprehensive view of street conditions, helping cities respond faster to deteriorating payment.
The pilot is currently operating in five metro areas — including Los Angeles and San Francisco — and has already identified roughly 500 potholes, the company said. The companies say they plan to expand the technology to colder-weather cities where freeze-thaw cycles often worsen road conditions.
“Working together helps our community and makes our roads better for everyone,” Waze strategic partner manager Andrew Stober said in the news release.
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