ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul is paring back a proposal that would have allowed autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo to start experimenting with their tech in upstate cities after furious retaliation from groups representing transit workers as well as rideshare and taxi drivers.
Hochul is set to roll back the proposal but still include an extension of the current pilot program allowance for New York City in her amendments to her state budget proposal being released today.
“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” Hochul Spokesperson Sean Butler wrote in a statement.
The news was first reported by Politico.
The emboldened unions and driver groups, which formed a group called the People First Transportation Alliance, want Albany to go a step further and pass a law that would effectively bar autonomous vehicles without a driver altogether.
“We urge the Legislature and the Governor to now pass legislation requiring a human driver behind the wheel in every vehicle and a comprehensive study leading to a plan to address the impact driverless cars would have on New York State,” Brendan Sexton, President of the Independent Drivers Guild, wrote in a statement.
The state legislation still requires localities to sign off on doing a pilot program.