WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced the I-47 Future Interstate Act to designate US-287, which is the second-longest three-digit highway in the U.S. and runs from Port Arthur, Texas, to Choteau, Montana, as the future Interstate 47, otherwise 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,” said Sen. Cornyn. “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.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is a cosponsor of this legislation.

Background:

The I-47 Future Interstate Act would designate US-287 as a future interstate. I-47, otherwise known as Trump Interstate, would advance freight movement, promote economic growth along the corridor, improve route safety in rural and urban areas, alleviate traffic congestion, and increase federal matching for Interstate System projects.

US-287 is a nationally significant transportation corridor that plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and demographic centers from Port Arthur, Texas, to Choteau, Montana. It is the second-longest three-digit highway in the U.S. and serves as a major trucking route. In 2022, more than 923 million tons of freight moved along US-287 within Texas alone. In addition to economic impact, sections of US-287 are part of the Strategic Highway Network, and the corridor supports defense deployment needs and strategic military ports and installations.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) did a feasibility study in July 2025 and found that upgrading US-287 to an interstate facility would result in an estimated $5.4 billion in travel cost savings, a 46,885 total increase in jobs, and $11.6 billion in total annual increase in GDP by 2050, resulting in a 161% return on investment. Currently, 8.8 million Texans reside within the study area, and this number is projected to rise to 12 million, representing 28% of the state’s population, by 2050. An interstate upgrade would also reduce average travel time and expand travel capacity, with a 43% increase in daily traffic. Notably, the study also found that in 2050, the upgrade would reduce crash rates by 28%.