Waymo Cars Clog Houston Neighborhood at Rail Crossing

Self-driving vehicles stack up, block driveways and honk horns as trains stall traffic in Greater Fifth Ward

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Waymo's self-driving cars have been lining up and clogging a street in Houston's Greater Fifth Ward neighborhood, blocking driveways and honking horns as trains stall traffic at a busy rail crossing on Gregg Street. Residents say the autonomous vehicles have become a "nuisance" in recent months, with as many as 10 or more cars queuing up at the crossing, which can be blocked for over an hour at a time.

Why it matters

The issues highlight challenges Waymo and other autonomous vehicle companies face as they expand into new markets and integrate with existing transportation infrastructure. The congestion on Gregg Street raises questions about how self-driving cars will navigate and interact with human drivers, pedestrians and public transit in dense urban environments.

The details

Waymo, which officially launched its ride-hailing service in Houston this week, says the cars have been routed to and from the company's operations depot and have stopped at the Gregg Street rail crossing while waiting for trains to pass. Waymo claims it has made operational adjustments to minimize the need to use this crossing, but residents say the problem has persisted for months with the cars blocking driveways, honking, and sometimes boxing in other drivers.

  • Waymo cars have been lining up at the Gregg Street rail crossing since December 2025.
  • On February 24, 2026, a Houston Chronicle reporter witnessed several Waymo cars lined up on Gregg Street as two trains blocked the crossing.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Brittany Delafose

A Houston resident who has complained about the Waymo cars clogging Gregg Street and blocking her driveway.

Nnaji Okolie

A Houston resident who says the Waymo vehicles are more of an annoyance than a major inconvenience on Gregg Street, and believes the real issue is the train and rail infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“First, it would be three, four or five. But lately it's like 10 plus in a row.”

— Brittany Delafose, Houston resident (Houston Chronicle)

“Between not being able to access the street, my driveway and now being woken up in the middle of the night from them honking because they're all stuck and trying to get out of the way, it's becoming a nuisance.”

— Brittany Delafose, Houston resident (Houston Chronicle)

“They don't block my driveway. They may block my neighbor's driveway more than mine, but that's about it.”

— Nnaji Okolie, Houston resident (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

Waymo says it has made operational adjustments to minimize the need to use the Gregg Street rail crossing, and believes the changes should help avoid further congestion in the neighborhood.

The takeaway

The issues with Waymo's self-driving cars in Houston's Fifth Ward highlight the challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in integrating their technology with existing transportation infrastructure and coexisting with human drivers in dense urban environments. As Waymo and others expand, they will need to work closely with local communities to address concerns and find solutions that balance the needs of all road users.