The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has announced plans to convert its tolling system to open road tolling east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension this month.

This caps a 15-year transition to further meet customers’ expectations for safe, convenient and seamless travel, according to a news release.

“The advent of open road tolling will advance safety and allow for the safe movement of vehicle traffic across our network. Pennsylvania is the great American getaway, and open road tolling will get traveling members of the public to destinations across our great commonwealth in a safe an efficient manner,” Pennsylvania Turnpike Chairman and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Michael Carroll said. “It’s a great day in Pennsylvania and another giant step forward for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.”

In an open road tolling system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges.

Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll-By-Plate transactions. Beyond properly mounting an E-ZPass transponder, customers will not need to do anything differently in preparation for the launch.

“In January, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission solidifies itself once again as a national leader in transportation when we bring the future of toll collection to Pennsylvania through open road tolling,” Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said. “This move reiterates our commitment to the safety of our customers and employees, while modernizing our operations and meeting customer expectations for seamless, nonstop travel.”