Waymo ride service is available again in San Antonio as of Thursday, September 17, 2026, including trips to and from San Antonio International Airport, after a temporary pause tied to floodwater safety concerns.
The Alphabet-owned autonomous ride-hailing company said it completed software updates and operational changes meant to improve how its vehicles detect and avoid floodwaters, according to local reports citing a company news release.
What changed during the pause
Waymo said it reviewed potential flooding zones across San Antonio and added location-specific limits in high-risk areas, News4 San Antonio reported. The company also adjusted weather alerts and operating triggers so it can change service more quickly during heavy rainfall.
KSAT reported that the improvements focus on the Waymo Driver’s ability to detect floodwaters and navigate away from them when necessary. Waymo said those updates have already performed well in other cities that continued operating through the summer.
Severe weather could still prompt another temporary pause. KSAT said Waymo uses National Weather Service information and local guidance to monitor conditions and will resume when it is safe.
Riders can check current availability in the Waymo app, according to KSAT.
Who can ride now
Axios San Antonio reported that riders who previously had access during Waymo’s initial San Antonio rollout can call rides again. Service is offered in a limited area that includes the airport. Axios said the company plans to open the app to new San Antonio users later this year and will welcome waitlisted riders over time.
Axios framed the restart as coming about five months after Waymo halted operations in the city following a flood-related incident. Driverless rides first arrived in San Antonio in late February, Axios reported.
April flooded-lane incident
The pause follows an April incident in which an empty, unoccupied Waymo vehicle entered a flooded lane during extreme weather in San Antonio. No one was injured, News4 reported. Axios, citing prior coverage, said the vehicle was swept into the water at Interstate 35 at Salado Creek on the city’s East Side, one of the area’s most flood-prone crossings according to the San Antonio Express-News.
News4 said Waymo later filed a voluntary software recall with federal regulators over risks involving flooded lanes on high-speed roads.
A KSAT report from April 21, 2026 covered the temporary pause after the flooded-road event.
Waymo’s statement
Robert Chen, Waymo’s product lead for weather, said in a company statement quoted by News4:
“Safety is our highest priority. We took the time to implement key software updates and operational improvements around flood waters, and have thoroughly validated our technology on local roads.”
Axios carried a longer version of the opening line, quoting Chen as saying that the same safety commitment “guided every step of the way during this pause.”
In a separate line quoted by KSAT and Axios, Chen added: “We look forward to earning the trust of San Antonians as they experience the magic of Waymo rides once again.”
As of September 17, Waymo’s official Waypoint blog did not list a dedicated San Antonio resume post. The latest featured updates were from mid-September on other topics. Local coverage attributes the restart details to a company news release and statement.
Context for robotaxi watchers
San Antonio was already a Waymo market before the pause. Thursday’s move is a resume with flood-focused software and operating limits—not a brand-new city launch. Waymo has also said extreme weather can force another temporary stop, underscoring how flood-prone road networks remain a live operational constraint for autonomous fleets.