ARIZONA NEWS
Waymo announces launch of ride-hailing service tester program in downtown Phoenix

FILE - In this April 7, 2021 file photo, a Waymo minivan arrives to pick up passengers for an autonomous vehicle ride, in Mesa, Ariz. Waymo's self-driving ride-hailing service is branching out to San Francisco. The Alphabet, Inc., autonomous vehicle unit said Wednesday, March 30, 2022, it has started carrying employees in electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs without human backup drivers. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
PHOENIX — Autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo on Tuesday announced the launch of its new tester program in downtown Phoenix.
The Waymo One Trusted Tester Program serves metro Phoenix-area residents enrolled in an app and traveling in the initial downtown service area, according to a press release.
Through the Waymo One app, residents can apply to the research-based program.
During and after the rides, the enrolled testers will participate in giving customer feedback.
Riders will have an autonomous specialist in the vehicle for the time being, the release said.
Operations in the East Valley launched in 2017 and began fully autonomous rides in 2020. The second tester program recently started in San Francisco and downtown Phoenix is the third.