Northeast

New York halts robotaxi expansion plan

Published

3 months ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

New York just hit pause on expanding robotaxis beyond New York City.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has withdrawn her proposal that would have allowed commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities across the state. That means places outside New York City will not see driverless ride services anytime soon.

If you live in Buffalo, Rochester or Albany, that future just got pushed further down the road. Meanwhile, one major player still plans to move forward inside the city.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

New York has paused plans to expand robotaxi service beyond New York City, slowing statewide deployment. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)

Waymo moves forward despite New York robotaxi expansion pause

Waymo, the self-driving arm of Alphabet, received its first permit last year to test autonomous vehicles in New York City. However, the permit requires a trained specialist behind the wheel. That testing permit remains in place. So, while statewide expansion is off the table for now, Waymo’s New York City testing program continues. The company already offers paid driverless rides in parts of:

The San Francisco Bay Area
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Austin
Atlanta

According to company data and state regulators in Arizona and California, Waymo has logged millions of fully autonomous miles. Arizona transportation officials have reported lower crash rates per mile compared with human drivers in certain operational zones. California’s DMV and Public Utilities Commission continue to monitor safety performance and incident reporting.

The company says it hears from thousands of New Yorkers who have ridden in Waymo vehicles elsewhere and want the service at home. Still, expanding beyond the city now faces a political roadblock.

UBER UNVEILS A NEW ROBOTAXI WITH NO DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL

Waymo can continue testing autonomous vehicles in NYC with a trained safety specialist behind the wheel. (Waymo)

Why Hochul pulled the New York robotaxi expansion plan

The governor’s office said support was not there in the state Legislature after conversations with stakeholders. That language matters. Self-driving vehicle rules involve state lawmakers, labor groups, local officials, safety advocates and insurance regulators. Expanding robotaxi services into smaller cities likely raised concerns about:

Safety oversight
Liability rules
Local job impact
Emergency response coordination

Autonomous vehicle deployment remains under intense scrutiny nationwide. After a high-profile incident involving Cruise in San Francisco in 2023, regulators tightened oversight. Cruise later suspended operations, and General Motors scaled back its robotaxi ambitions. Waymo has not recorded a similar major injury event in public reporting. That distinction has helped it expand in states like Arizona and Texas. Even so, public trust remains fragile.

What this means for you

You might be thinking, “I do not live in New York. Why should I care?” Because state decisions like this often ripple outward. If New York, one of the largest transportation markets in the country, slows expansion outside its biggest city, other states may take note. Lawmakers across the country watch how New York handles new technology.

Here is what this pause signals:

Robotaxi rollouts will stay uneven

Some cities will embrace them quickly. Others will wait for more data and clearer rules.

Politics matter as much as technology

Even if autonomous vehicles prove safer per mile in controlled settings, public policy decides where they operate.

Your city could be next in line

As companies push for expansion in major metros, debates over safety, job liability and infrastructure will follow. If you rely on ride-hailing services, autonomous vehicles could eventually lower costs and increase availability. On the other hand, local drivers and labor groups may push back hard. This tension will play out city by city.

ATLANTA TESTS DRIVERLESS POD TRANSIT LOOP

State lawmakers across the country are watching as New York weighs safety, regulation and the future of driverless rides. (Waymo)

The bigger national picture for robotaxi expansion

Federal agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continue to collect crash data and investigate autonomous vehicle performance. However, states control many of the rules governing commercial operations. That means America may not get one unified robotaxi system. Instead, it may look like a patchwork. Phoenix might move fast. Austin might expand aggressively. Buffalo might wait.

In the meantime, companies like Waymo continue refining software using real-world miles and sensor data. The more data they collect, the stronger their safety case becomes. Yet public perception often hinges on a single viral incident. Technology evolves quickly. Regulation moves more slowly.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

New York’s decision is not a death blow to robotaxis. It is a reminder that innovation must pass a political test. Waymo still plans to move forward in New York City. Smaller cities across the state will wait. Other states will watch. The question is no longer whether autonomous vehicles will expand. It is how fast and where.

If driverless cars reduce crashes and improve pedestrian safety, should lawmakers speed up approval? Or should they move cautiously and protect existing systems until every risk is understood? What would you want your city to do? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Read the full article from Here

Click to comment

Boston, MA

New England restaurants adding gratuity to bills during World Cup

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

New England restaurants adding gratuity to bills during World Cup

For the next few weeks, you might notice an additional service charge at some restaurants in Massachusetts in anticipation of international visitors who may not be accustomed to U.S. expectations around tipping.

At Union Straw in Foxboro, Massachusetts, customers will see a 20% service charge during the World Cup.

“Time is going to be very, very far, few and beyond for people when they’re trying to get to the stadium, with traffic and all that stuff. So we are going to implement a 20% service charge on all checks and hope to streamline those operations and save people 10 to 15 minutes,” said Craig Carreira, director of operations for Union Straw.

Right outside of Gillette stadium, at Patriot Place, Bar Louie and Davio’s are also planning to add a service charge during the World Cup.

The World Cup is underway, and the Haitian team made its way to Boston Thursday.

“That’s primarily how we do get paid, is through our tips,” said Christine Peterson, a bartender at Davio’s.

In Massachusetts, tipped workers earn $6.75 an hour. If they don’t earn enough in tips to reach $15 an hour, employers must make up the difference.

A 2024 ballot measure that aimed to raise the minimum wage gradually for tipped workers failed, in part, because many servers argued it would lower their overall compensation. So while tipping is largely expected in the U.S., it continues to be a topic of great debate.

“I don’t really like it. I like to tip somebody for their service, but there’s no incentive for the server to do well,” said Joan, a Rhode Island resident.

New signs and new grass are up at Gillette Stadium as the home of the Patriots hosts World Cup matches.

“All these restaurants are getting all this money with all these people coming here, and plus, they’re going to add another 20%,” said Susan, who was at Patriot Place Thursday. “That’s not right, not in my book.”

“I think it’s a good thing. They’re serving us, they should be able to get paid for their service. So I don’t mind,” said Mishi, a woman visiting from Haiti.

Under Massachusetts’ Consumer Protection Act, any mandatory charges or fees must be made known to the customer wherever prices are displayed on menus and bills.

Gillette Stadium, temporarily branded as Boston Stadium, is hosting seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches from June 13 through July 9.

Source link

Pittsburg, PA

The South Side Street Fest is coming to Pittsburgh this summer. Here’s what to know.

Published

3 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

The South Side Street Fest is coming to Pittsburgh this summer. Here’s what to know.

East Carson Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side will be closed off to cars, people under 21 years old and anyone who has previously committed a crime in the space as part of a new plan aimed at replacing what can be a chaotic late weekend evening in the bar-filled corridor with what’s being dubbed the South Side Street Fest.

The street fest will fill East Carson Street on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. between 12th and 18th streets. During that time, people entering must pass through metal detectors and IDs will be scanned to verify that individuals are at least 21 and that they aren’t on a list of people not allowed to enter.

“Pittsburghers love the South Side,” said Peter Margittai, president of the Southside Chamber of Commerce. “And they want to come back. They’re just scared, and this is giving them a great reason to come back. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be safe.”

The plan was revealed at a community meeting on Thursday involving Pittsburgh Public Safety, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the South Side Community Action Network, and the Chamber of Commerce.

The Southside Hospitality Partnership is the official sponsor of the festival, which is scheduled to begin on June 20 and will run on Fridays and Saturday nights until Sept. 12.

Compared to the restrictions placed on Market Square, which banned children from entering that space, this plan is being done in closer conjunction with city police, a public safety spokesperson said.

“We want to change the behavior down here,” Zone 3 Police Commander Jeff Abraham said. “In 2026, we’ve seized 62 firearms, illegal firearms down here, and we’re just trying to get those type of bad actors to stop coming to East Carson Street.”

Road closures will start at 9 p.m. At that time, people inside the footprint will either be given wristbands or be asked to re-enter at the security entry points. Residents will be able to park their cars on side streets, but if they are on East Carson Street, they’ll have to go.

“It’s a really exciting plan for the South Side,” said John DeMauro, a member of the South Side Hospitality Partnership and owner of South Side businesses. “This plan really provides structure and expectation for people coming to East Carson Street, but it’s also going to provide things to do.”

They’ve already had discussions, he said, about activating storefronts outside during the festival.

“So, for instance, at my storefront, I’ll be selling food outside,” DeMauro said. “We want to implement some music on the street, we want to implement some art on the street.”

As for open-container rules, people won’t be allowed to bring their beers outside of bars onto the street. They will be allowed to purchase beers from designated tents in the street. Those beers will be priced at a “premium,” one of the speakers during the informational meeting on Thursday said.

“You’re going to be safe when you come to East Carson Street, you’re going to be able to enjoy yourself, you’re going to be able to have fun, like many people have for the past 30 years,” DeMauro said.

Rosemarie Berman of the Southside Community Action Network was tasked with taking the questions of those in attendance and posing them to officials.

“People are concerned about what if I live on Carson Street. How do I get to my place? How are we going to handle people on the side streets? And I think they addressed all those concerns pretty much this evening,” Berman said.

Asked if people thought the plan would work, she said that people are optimistic. She added that people expect bumps in the road early, but in the end, it will evolve into something “wonderful.”

“I don’t think it’s perfect, but I don’t think anyone really does. But it’s a really good plan,” said Margittai.