Sen. John Cornyn introduced a bill to rename US-287 as “Trump Interstate.”
HOUSTON — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is introducing new legislation that would designate a major U.S. highway as “Interstate 47,” or “Trump Interstate.”
Cornyn announced Monday that he introduced the I-47 Future Interstate Act, which would designate U.S. Highway 287 as a future interstate stretching from Port Arthur, Texas, to Choteau, Montana.
According to Cornyn’s office, the route would also be known as “Trump Interstate.”
“Texas is Trump Country, and this bill cements that legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open-road from Texas’ Gulf Coast to the edge of the U.S.-Canadian border as I-47 to forever be remembered as Trump Interstate,” Cornyn said.
“By upgrading one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate, this legislation will increase economic growth and improve safety, all while honoring the most consequential president of our lifetime,” Cornyn said.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming, is co-sponsoring the legislation.
According to Cornyn’s office, U.S. Highway 287 is the second-longest three-digit highway in the United States and serves as a major trucking corridor.
The proposed interstate would run from Port Arthur through Texas and north to Montana.
Cornyn’s office said the legislation would help advance freight movement, promote economic growth, improve safety in both rural and urban areas, reduce congestion and increase federal matching funds for interstate projects.
The release also cited a July 2025 feasibility study by the Texas Department of Transportation that examined the impact of upgrading US-287 to interstate standards.
According to the study, the project could result in:
- $5.4 billion in travel cost savings
- A 46,885 increase in jobs
- An $11.6 billion annual increase in GDP by 2050
- A 161% return on investment
- A 28% reduction in crash rates by 2050
Cornyn’s office also said more than 923 million tons of freight moved along US-287 within Texas in 2022 alone.
The proposal comes as Cornyn remains locked in a closely watched Republican Senate runoff against Ken Paxton, who has served as Texas Attorney General.
According to a recent University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll, Paxton currently leads the Republican Senate race with 48% support compared to 45% for Cornyn. Another 7% of voters surveyed said they remain undecided.
The survey, conducted between April 28 and May 1, included 1,200 likely voters and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points.
The runoff election is scheduled for May 26.
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