Exclusive: Waymo expects D.C. robotaxi talks to continue this summer

State of play: Council member Charles Allen held a 10-hour hearing on the bill last week.

• A big sticking point is the bill's proposed 200-vehicle cap on robotaxi operators.
• "What we don't want is a cap that restricts our ability to effectively serve the District," Matt Walsh, Waymo's head of public policy in the east, told me on the "Dream City Podcast."
• Waymo, which has been heavily lobbying the Wilson Building for approval, expects discussions to continue before a potential vote on the bill in the fall.

Between the lines: Waymo doesn't appear concerned about a first-in-the-nation "vehicle miles traveled" fee.

• The proposal would charge robotaxi operators 15 cents for every mile traveled per vehicle to discourage additional congestion. Revenue would be split between upgrading Metro transit and aiding rideshare drivers who face job losses.
• "Waymo is supportive of the council member's intent to fund workforce transition programs," Walsh says.

And he has a message for those still weirded out by the robots:

• "Take the leap," says Walsh, who recalls "white-knuckling the door handle" the first time he got in one, too. "After that first 30 to 45 seconds, it became so normal to me."

💭 Cuneyt's thought bubble: If I had to guess, labor is holding the line to try to bargain the best possible deal for workers. And if Janeese Lewis George becomes the city's next mayor, they could have an even stronger hand.

• The Alphabet-backed startup raised $16 billion in February at a $126 billion valuation. The question is: How much is it willing to invest in local jobs, facilities like a regional robotaxi hub and worker protections to win approval?