H.R. 7151House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Ports-to-Plains Highway Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:53 PM UTC

The Ports‑to‑Plains Highway Act of 2020 amends the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act to add specific highway segments in Colorado (the stretch from Limon to I‑76 near Brush) and another segment identified in the law as subsection (c)(38) to the future Interstate system. It also lets vehicles that were legally allowed on those roads before they become Interstates keep operating without being subject to the usual Interstate weight limits. The changes affect the states that control those road sections and the trucks that travel on them.

Key Provisions

Amends the ISTEA to list the Limon‑to‑I‑76 segment and the segment referenced in subsection (c)(38) as future Interstate routes, and requires the responsible states to post appropriate signage once approved by the Secretary of Transportation.
Adds a vehicle‑weight exemption so that any vehicle legally operating on those segments before they are designated as Interstates can continue to do so without meeting the standard Interstate weight restrictions.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

June 12, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 11, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

June 11, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

June 12, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 11, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7151

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2020

Mr. Arrington (for himself, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Granger, Mr. Thornberry, and Mr. Luján) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 with respect to future interstate designations, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ports-to-Plains Highway Act of 2020.

Future interstate designation and operation

(a)

Inclusion of certain route segments on interstate system

Section 1105(e)(5) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

by inserting subsection (c)(14)(A)(ii) (relating solely to the portion from Limon to I–76 in the vicinity of Brush), after subsection (c)(13),; and

(B)

by inserting subsection (c)(38), after subsection (c)(37),; and

(2)

in subparagraph (C)(i), by adding at the end the following: A State having jurisdiction over any segment of the routes referred to in subsection (c)(14)(A)(ii) (relating solely to the portion from Limon to I–76 in the vicinity of Brush) or (c)(38) shall erect signs, as appropriate and approved by the Secretary, identifying such segment as a future addition to the Interstate System..

(b)

Vehicle weight limitations

Section 127 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(v)

Operation of vehicles on certain Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico highways

If any segment of the routes referred to in section 1105(c)(14)(A)(ii) (relating solely to the portion from Limon to I–76 in the vicinity of Brush) or section 1105(c)(38) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 is designated as a route on the Interstate System, a vehicle that could operate legally on that segment before the date of such designation may continue to operate on that segment, without regard to any requirement under this section.