A North Texas lawmaker is proposing that the Dallas North Tollway be renamed in honor of President Donald Trump after U.S. Sen. John Cornyn appeared to step back from his own effort to dedicate a Texas highway to the President.
State Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican from Frisco, announced on Thursday that he plans to introduce a resolution during the next legislative session calling on the North Texas Tollway Authority to rename the roadway the “Donald J. Trump Tollway.”
Patterson’s proposal follows Cornyn’s decision to deprioritize legislation that would have redesignated U.S. Highway 287 as Interstate 47, a reference to Trump’s position as the nation’s 47th President.
Cornyn introduced the measure in May during his Republican Senate primary campaign. The proposal would have applied to the approximately 660-mile route stretching from Port Arthur to Kerrick, Texas, and connecting to a larger corridor extending north toward Montana.
However, after losing the Republican runoff to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had received Trump’s endorsement, Cornyn indicated the highway renaming effort would likely not move forward.
The senator told Hearst Newspapers that the proposal “may not make it into my priorities the next seven months.”
Cornyn spokesperson Haley Crow said the senator remains focused on other legislative goals before the end of his term.
“Our team has 7 months left for legislative tasks, and the Senator will continue to work to make sure Texas has robust access to infrastructure funding for our highways and interstates, including through the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill,” Crow said, per Fox 4 KDFW.
Patterson criticized Cornyn on social media and pledged to continue efforts to honor Trump by designating a roadway.
“That’s why next session I intend to file a resolution calling on the North Texas Tollway Authority to rename the Dallas North Tollway the ‘Donald J. Trump Tollway,’” Patterson wrote.
He said the corridor reflects the impact of Trump’s policies on the region’s growth.
“Few places in America better represent the success of President Trump’s pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-family agenda than the corridor stretching from Dallas through Collin and Denton Counties,” Patterson said. “Naming this iconic roadway after President Trump would be a lasting tribute to a President whose leadership helped fuel unprecedented growth and prosperity across our region.”
The Dallas North Tollway is a 30.2-mile roadway running from Dallas through Collin and Denton counties. The route serves as a major commuter corridor, connecting several of North Texas’ fastest-growing communities, including Frisco.
Any renaming would ultimately require approval from the North Texas Tollway Authority, which owns and operates the roadway. Under the agency’s roadway naming policy, its board of directors has final authority over naming decisions.
No timeline has been announced for Patterson’s proposal beyond its expected introduction during the next legislative session. The idea has already generated discussion among local leaders and motorists who regularly use the tollway.
