Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Staten Island Bridge Crossings Camera Design

Burns led infrastructure design for automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) at Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, and the Outerbridge Crossing.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) tasked Burns with the design of permanent license plate readers at three State Island crossings. PANYNJ initiated the $10-million program to assist local law enforcement prevent or resolve stolen vehicle incidents, locate vehicles associated with missing persons, and clamp down on toll evasion.

Engineering tasks included electrical, technology and structural design services. Burns worked closely with a traffic consulting team to develop step-by-step installation sequences, minimizing the number of lane closures.

The camera placement strategy required designs that provided ideal viewing angles, facilitated device mounting, enabled future servicing and maintenance, and ensured reliable connections with local power sources and data networks.

The project adds 24 new ALPRs at the Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing, bringing the total number of readers along the agency’s Staten Island crossings to 40. PANYNJ anticipates installation will be complete by the end of 2026.

“As technology becomes more advanced, criminals are turning to more sophisticated means so we must also employ the best available technology to our advantage,” said Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) Superintendent Edward Cetnar in a statement. “License plate reading technology enables round-the-clock monitoring that further enhances PAPD’s patrols and also allows us to share information with our sister law enforcement agencies quicker than ever.”