On August 18, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) held a public hearing on the proposed 36A expansion project, focusing on the south segment from FM 1994 outside Needville to Interstate 10. The in-person meeting – a series exhibits and displays on the project – was held at Katy Gardens, 1040 Schlipf Road in Katy and was designed to solicit community feedback on the possible alternatives for the proposed new north-south highway. A virtual meeting was also available online and was available onsite for attendees to view.

The proposed project, designed to improve mobility throughout the region and to serve as a corridor for freight movement from Port Freeport, would consist of a highway with four travel lanes, two in each direction, with design varying by alternative. TxDOT originally created eight alternate routes but added a ninth version after initial public feedback asking for a route that utilized existing infrastructure.

The options were narrowed to three in consideration following scoping meetings held in the summer of 2025 where the original alternatives were presented. Approximately 4,900 people took part in the scoping meetings, according to documents provided by TxDOT. The most common themes from the public included environmental resources, farmland, historic structures and properties, evacuation routes and concerns about noise and flooding, TxDOT said in the virtual meeting.

Here is a comparison of the final three alternatives, which TxDOT deems “practical, feasible and reasonable:”

Issue Reasonable Alternative 4 Reasonable Alternative 8A Reasonable Alternative 9

Length 41.8 miles 41.3 miles 41.4 miles

Right of way

(ROW) needs 3,091 acres 2,659 acres 1,295 acres

Potential

displacements Commercial: 2 Residential: 23 Commercial: 6 Residential: 36 Commercial: 8 Residential: 25

Approximate cost $3.79 billion $3.71 billion $4.95 billion

Description of

typical section · Four 12-ft. wide travel lanes, two in each direction, separated by a 6-ft. wide grassy median with 6-ft. wide inside shoulders and 10-ft. wide Same as Reasonable Alternative 4 · Elevated highway with columns withing exiting SH 36 or Spur 10 median that would consist of our 12-ft. wide travel lanes, two in each direction, with 12-ft. wide inside shoulders and 24-ft. wide outside shoulders · No shared use path · No service roads outside shoulders · 10-ft. wide shared use path for pedestrians, cyclists and non- motorized users · Intermittent service roads would be approved by TxDOT but constructed by others · Existing SH 36 or Spur 10 remain unchanged from current conditions · Applies to SH 36 from Needville to Spur 10 and from Spur 10 from SH 36 (north of Needville) to US 59/IH 69 · Elevated highway outside existing SH 36 or SP 10. Applies to the following sections: SH 36 from FM 1994 to Needville, SP 10 from US 59/IH 69 to SH 36 east of Orchard and SH 36 from SP 10 to Orchard


Additionally, an environmental analysis looked at each alternative, considering railroad and pipeline crossings, oil and gas wells, parks and recreation areas, potential water crossings, endangered species habitats, and floodway impacts.

To view the maps of the alternative routes, go to engagetxdot.mysocialpinpoint.com/36a-south-public-scoping-meeting.

Public comments will still be accepted if sent via U.S. Mail postmarked by September 4 to TxDOT Houston District, Advanced Project Development P.O. Box 1386, Houston, TX 77251-1386. Comments may be sent via email to 36ASouth@txdot.gov.

Next steps in the project will be a draft of the environmental impact statement (EIS) notice of availability, due in late 2027, according to documents provided at the meeting. Another public hearing will be held in late 2027 or early 2028, followed by a final EIS/record of decision with selected alternative in the summer of 2028. Final design is expected in the fall of 2028, with the property acquisition process taking place until the fall of 2031. Construction is expected to start in 2037.