President Donald J. Trump Highway? Texas considers renaming key highway section
State Representative Joanne Shofner introduced House Bill 5503, a proposal to rename a section of Interstate 35 in Travis County as "President Donald J. Trump Highway."
In Texas, roads often carry significant historical and symbolic weight, with many named in honor of veterans, local heroes, or political figures. Now, a proposal from State Representative Joanne Shofner aims to add President Donald J. Trump’s name to that list, suggesting that a section of Interstate 35 (I-35) in Austin be renamed "President Donald J. Trump Highway.
This move comes as part of a broader conversation about honoring Trump’s impact on Texas and the nation. However, the proposal has sparked mixed reactions between Texans.
What you should know about Texas proposal?
On March 14, Representative Shofner introduced House Bill 5503, "an act relating to the designation of Interstate Highway 35 in Travis County as the President Donald J. Trump Highway," to the state legislature.
The I-35 is one of the busiest highways in Texas. It stretches from Laredo on the Mexican border to Duluth, Minnesota, passing through cities such as San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth. It is also known for its heavy traffic and its economic importance.
Beyond the daily congestion, the highway already has several names:
- PanAm Expressway in San Antonio
- Interregional Highway in Austin
- Jack Kultgen Freeway in Waco
- And symbolically, it is part of the Purple Heart Trail, a national network honoring soldiers wounded in combat. The question now is: Will Trump’s name be added to this list?
The bill suggests renaming the portion of Interstate 35 that runs through Travis County, including the state capital of Austin, in honor of President Trump. Signage marking the new designation would be placed "at both ends of the highway and at key points along its route."
In a press release supporting the bill, Shofner’s office stated, "In his first two months in office, President Trump, alongside Governor Abbott, has safeguarded Texas' southern border by completing the wall, halting illegal immigration, and combating human and drug trafficking, including the deadly fentanyl crisis." While construction on the border wall near El Paso resumed on January 31, there is no confirmation that the wall now extends across the entire Texan-Mexican border.
Are there other Trump's Avenue initiatives in America?
Other initiatives to honor Trump have been proposed or implemented across the U.S. In December, a road in Hialeah, Florida, was renamed "President Donald J. Trump Avenue."
Additionally, a bill was introduced in the Tennessee House to rename Nashville International Airport as "Trump International Airport," and a Republican lawmaker in the U.S. House proposed legislation to add Trump’s likeness to Mount Rushmore.
The Texas bill, known as HB 5503, proposes placing signage at both ends of the section and at key points along the corridor. According to Shofner’s office, the designation aims to acknowledge Trump’s “profound and lasting impact” on Texas and the country.
For the proposal to become a reality, it first needs to be approved by the state legislature. Then, Governor Greg Abbott would need to sign it into law. If that happens, the new designation would take effect on September 1, 2025. Funding for the signage would come from private donations and grants, while maintenance would be managed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
For some, the proposal is a gesture of recognition for Trump’s influence in Texas. For others, it is a political move in a state where the president remains a polarizing figure.