TEXAS — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn introduced legislation on Monday that would designate U.S. Highway 287 as Interstate 47, also known as the Trump Interstate. The I-47 Future Interstate Act would convert one of the country's longest highways into a future interstate, with Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming signing on as a cosponsor.

U.S. Highway 287 stretches nearly 1,800 miles, making it the second-longest three-digit highway in the United States. The route begins at Port Arthur on the Texas Gulf Coast and travels through East Texas, North Texas and the Texas Panhandle before continuing into Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and ending in Montana.

"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."

The measure would advance freight movement along the U.S. Highway 287 corridor, promote economic growth, improve route safety in rural and urban areas, and alleviate traffic congestion. It would also increase federal matching for Interstate System projects.

According to a Texas Department of Transportation feasibility study, upgrading the highway into an interstate would lead to $5.4 billion in travel cost savings by 2050 and a total increase of 46,885 jobs by the same year. The study projected an $11.6 billion increase in total annual GDP by 2050 and a 161% return on investment. The study also found that the upgrade would decrease average travel time and reduce crash rates by 28% in 2050.

Within Texas, U.S. Highway 287 runs through Jefferson, Hardin, Tyler, Polk, Trinity, Houston, Anderson, Freestone, Navarro, Ellis, Johnson, Tarrant, Wise, Montague, Clay, Wichita, Wilbarger, Hardeman, Childress, Hall, Donley, Armstrong, Carson, Potter, Moore, Sherman and Dallam counties.