Waymo, the company synonymous with self-driving taxis on the West Coast, is now allowed to start testing out the congested streets of New York City.

The Department of Transportation issued a permit on Friday allowing the company, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, to test out eight self-driving cars with a driver in the vehicle. The pilot period is expected to last through September, but in a release the city said the company can renew its permit.

For now, the company will not be allowed to pick up passengers. It is permitted to cruise around Manhattan south of Central Park and in parts of Downtown Brooklyn.

The company operates its driverless ride-hailing cars in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Its vehicles are used by Uber in Austin, and it pl

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