NJDOT Deploys Ouster BlueCity in preparation for FIFA World Cup 2026
Ouster BlueCity to be deployed at 42 urban highway locations covering mainline and ramps close to the MetLife Stadium
The deployments are part of New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) project representing the largest and fastest Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) deployment in the State’s history.
NJDOT’s project integrates Ouster BlueCity into the statewide Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) for enhanced mobility and safety.
NJDOT, in partnership with Ouster and its regional partner, Signal Control Products, deployed Ouster BlueCity, a complete lidar traffic management solution for actuation, alerts and analytics, at 42 highway locations. This large-scale initiative is designed to provide a combination of high-fidelity traffic monitoring and real-time safety alerts in preparation for the massive influx of visitors and pedestrians expected for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
With more than 1.2 million visitors expected to descend on New Jersey and New York, including an estimated 40,000 additional travelers daily on World Cup match days, NJDOT has implemented a digital traffic twin for the urban arterial highways and freeways surrounding the MetLife Stadium complex.
Using a single lidar sensor per approach on roadside poles, Ouster BlueCity enables the State to move beyond traditional inductive loops, fixed signals, and manual data collection efforts to achieve high-speed, continuous, and detection of different types of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists for per-lane highway monitoring and safety alerts.
By integrating diverse data streams with 3D lidar and IoT technologies, the State’s project creates a connected corridor that provides NJDOT operators with a comprehensive, real-time view of traffic conditions. This enhanced visibility spans the pre-game, live-event, and post-game phases, allowing for more efficient management of historical bottlenecks on both urban arterials and major freeways. Crucially, Ouster BlueCity automates the detection of critical safety events and moves beyond reliance on manual video camera monitoring to generate instant alerts that allow operators to take immediate action without the need to constantly scan dozens of feeds. This shift ensures a faster, more reliable response to life-safety incidents during high-capacity events.
This is the largest ITS project NJDOT has ever done, and they did it in record time, so we had to see it for ourselves. We visited New Jersey to see the cutting-edge technologies being deployed to provide one million World Cup fans a safer and smoother experience in just a few weeks. With the integration of multiple technologies, from lidar sensors to camera-based video analytics to road side units, all into a statewide Advanced Traffic Management System—this area is now packed with transportation tech to make the mobility of both visitors and NJ residents safer and more efficient.
This initiative does more than just prepare the state for the FIFA World Cup; it establishes a permanent ITS system designed to manage real-time traffic, reduce congestion, and heighten safety. Long after the action on the pitch ends, the new ITS infrastructure will continue optimizing traffic operations for major events and enhancing the safety of everyday commuting patterns for New Jersey residents.
Example detection of high-speed vehicles highway ramp
By harnessing Ouster BlueCity, NJDOT can provide:
Mainline and ramp monitoring: Real-time view of traffic conditions to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion on critical highways and intersections leading to World Cup venues
Real-time safety alerts: Managing the safety of residents and World Cup visitors and residents by detecting, recording and triggering real-time warning alerts and 3D event recordings for a range of use cases such as wrong-way drivers, stopped vehicles, and vulnerable road users on the highway. Instant alerts enable Traffic Operations Centers to act faster to safety-critical events.
Automated data analytics: The system continuously captures per-vehicle and aggregated data including vehicle speed, volume, and dwell time, together with per-lane occupancy and queue measurements. This rich, privacy-enabled data enables NJDOT to promptly respond to bottleneck formations to enhance traffic flow and accelerate highway interventions
Rapid deployments: Demonstrating a new standard for how quickly complex, multimodal transportation detection technology can be scaled and installed to meet short deadlines
Seamless ATMS Integration: Ouster BlueCity integrates directly into the State’s ATMS for enhanced mobility and safety
Example Ouster BlueCity wrong-way driving 3D event recording
NJDOT is setting a new standard for how states can leverage technology to handle the world's largest sporting events. By integrating Ouster BlueCity into their existing highway traffic infrastructure, New Jersey is ensuring that their roadways are not only ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026, but are also more resilient and safer for its residents long after the final whistle.
To learn more, visit ouster.com/bluecity.
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