The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has unveiled potential locations for tolling gantries on Interstate 80 and has proposed to allow most local users to avoid paying tolls.

The commission announced 20 possible locations for a maximum of nine tolling points, and it said two-axle vehicles that use E-Z Pass would not be charged until they pass through their second toll gantry. The commission said that would enable more than 70 percent of the drivers to avoid tolls. Given the likely spacing of the gantries, motorists could drive at least 30 and up to 60 miles without tolls in most cases.

The proposed system would be fully automated. For cars without E-Z Pass, cameras would record license plates and send the car owner a bill for the tolls incurred.

The plan was received positively in many quarters, although residents and political leaders along the I-80 corridor continued to express opposition to any type of tolling plan.

The tolling of I-80 was included as part of Act 44, which was enacted in July 2007. The act raises approximately $450 million per year, closing less than half of the funding gap for maintaining the existing highway system. The tolling plan was thought to be more palatable than raising the gas tax or user fees or leasing the Turnpike.

The Centre Daily Times reported that the Federal Highway Administration will take at least two months to reply to Pennsylvania’s resubmitted application.