PHOENIX — Waymo has announced a 90-square-mile expansion of their autonomous ridesharing service in the Valley.
The driverless service now extends further into north Phoenix and reaches as far as Desert Ridge. The rideshare app also announced a partnership with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, allowing them to operate on tribal land.
“The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is excited to announce its partnership with Waymo,” said SRPMIC President Martin Harvier.
Waymo now covers 315 square miles of The Valley.
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
Mesa
Chandler
Scottsdale
Tempe
Glendale
Surprise
Peoria
Gilbert
El Mirage
Avondale
Litchfield Park
Goodyear
Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
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