Lubbock Times

Chairman Jodey Arrington expressed his excitement over the Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation to rename the interstate-designated segments of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor to “I-27.” Arrington emphasized the significance of this bill in connecting the ports of South Texas to the plains of West Texas and beyond, stating that it would stimulate substantial economic growth and provide a competitive edge to producers and manufacturers throughout the region.

“Our legislation to officially name the Ports-to-Plains Corridor ‘I-27’ is heading to the President’s desk to become law,” said Chairman Arrington. “The Ports-to-Plains Corridor is a critical tool for enhancing our nation’s agriculture and energy dominance and will be a boon to rural America and West Texas, bringing $50 billion to Texas over the next 20 years.”

The expansion of the I-27 corridor is expected to have a significant impact on Texas's economy. It is estimated to grow Texas’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over $55.6 billion in the first 20 years, create 178,600 construction jobs, and add 17,000 long-term employment opportunities.

In the background section, it was highlighted that in 2022, Chairman Arrington led the legislation that designated a portion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as a future Interstate route, making it eligible for federal funding. Furthermore, in December 2023, Congressman Arrington successfully secured House passage of legislation to officially name the route segment “I-27.”

With the recent Senate approval of the bill, it now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The completion of this process will solidify the renaming of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as “I-27,” further enhancing transportation infrastructure and economic opportunities in the region.