The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s open-road tolling system launches Sunday, according to a news release.

The system is in place for the turnpike east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension, the release says. Open-road tolling will start on the rest of the turnpike in 2027, it says.

Starting Sunday, turnpike tolls will be assessed by “gantries,” overhead structures with electronic devices. Equipment in the gantries will receive signals from drivers’ E-ZPass transponders or will read license plates and bill those drivers by mail.

Previously, tolls were assessed at transponders set up at toll booths. The turnpike commission decided in 2020 to go cashless, which led to the elimination of toll collector jobs.

The turnpike recommends travelers use E-ZPass transponders, which save drivers 50% on tolls.

The release says new standardization and vehicle classification changes will result in a toll cut or an increase of under $1 in 2025 for most drivers.

Construction is underway to increase the Northeast Extension from four lanes to six lanes for a six-mile stretch south of the Quakertown exit. That work should wrap up in 2025, according to the news release.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.

Carter, who was also a distinguished Naval officer, author and humanitarian, passed away Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.

Tributes for the longest-lived American president in U.S. history have poured in from leaders across the nation, including politicians in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Take a look at the local reactions below:

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Gov. Shapiro ordered U.S. and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately in honor of former President Carter.

The flags will remain lowered to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2024. Gov. Shapiro invited all Pennsylvanians to participate in the tribute.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker

Mayor Parker ordered all city of Philadelphia flags to be lowered to half-mast. She also posted the following statement on Carter’s death on Facebook.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy

Gov. Murphy released the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Jimmy Carter was a man whose tremendous faith was equaled by his sense of moral courage and purpose. He saw a nation scarred by Watergate and sought to heal its wounds and restore its faith. He saw the promise for peace in the Middle East and took the first steps toward that elusive goal, including personally brokering a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He saw a world imperiled by the threat of nuclear war and endeavored to protect it. 

“In addition to his accomplishments in public office, it is what President Carter did when he did not have an official title that has solidified his place among our nation’s greatest citizens. He served in the United States Navy with distinction. And he committed his life after the White House to charitable endeavors large and small to better our world – to promote peace, to fight disease, and to house the homeless, among so much else. 

“We pray that, in rest, President Carter will be reunited with his beloved wife Rosalynn. And we are sending our prayers, as well, to their children Jack, James II, Donnel, and Amy, along with their families, and all who had the pleasure of knowing President Carter through the years.

“In his youth, few probably ever fathomed the lasting imprint this son of Plains, Georgia would leave on the world. He proved that good people, wanting nothing more than to do good, can excel in politics and life. And, as he leaves us, we are forever grateful.”

Delaware Governor John Carney

“Today, Tracey and I learned the sad news of the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was a man of great faith and that faith inspired his service as Governor of Georgia and later as President of the United States. He was perhaps best known for the work he did after leaving office. He was a champion for peace and human rights at home and around the globe and was recognized for his efforts with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. And he inspired many with the work he did for Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s. President Carter truly embodied what it means to be a public servant and we are grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”

Pennsylvania House Democrats

Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders issued the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Carter dedicated his life to serving the American people, from his time as a submariner in the nuclear navy to fighting for equality and civil rights as a Georgia state senator and then as governor. 

“As president, he guided the nation past the dark memory of Watergate. Here in Pennsylvania, he was a steady, calming voice during the Three Mile Island crisis. Always an engineer, he was among the first to identify and advance renewable energy policies that, had they been maintained, could have changed the world we live in today. 

“After his presidency, he became a world leader once again in the arena of human rights and democracy, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, and for decades, he was the face—and the man swinging the hammer—for Habitat for Humanity.  

“Please join us in keeping former President Carter’s loved ones in your prayers as our nation mourns together.”

U.S. Senator Tom Carper 

Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Carter was a man of unquestionable honor and integrity. From his time as a Navy midshipman to his years providing leadership from the White House, his life was defined by service. I know his legacy will live on with the good and necessary work of The Carter Center. President Carter lived an exceptional life, and our nation is better off because of his exemplary service. Martha and I are keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.“

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO Corinne O’Connell

Carter worked extensively with Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that works to build affordable housing.

Carter first volunteered with the group in Americus, Georgia, in March 1984. Since then, Carter and his late-wife Rosalynn Carter worked with nearly 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 Habitat for Humanity homes.

After his death, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO Corinne O’Connell released the following statement.

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter. During his life, President Carter rose to the most powerful office in the world and yet, remained grounded in his faith and rooted in his humble beginnings. 

President Carter spent much of his time post-presidency dedicated to Habitat for Humanity and helped to build 4,390 homes alongside more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries. For decades, he and his wife, Rosalynn, hosted the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The project attracts thousands of volunteers and continues to inspire millions around the world each year.

Locally, President Carter and Rosalynn worked alongside Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia staff, volunteers and homeowners to renovate five vacant houses on the 1900 block of Wilt Street in North Philadelphia in 1988 that were sold to first-time homebuyers. 

The world is a better place because of President Carter, and not just for the homes he had a hand in building. His emphasis on our shared humanity is an inspiration to all. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia lifts the entire Carter family in our prayers.