Infrastructure

For residents in Katy, Brookshire, Pattison, Hempstead, Prairie View, Waller and the rural communities between I-10 and US 290, the proposed 36A North Project is more than a line on a transportation map. It is an early-stage highway proposal tied directly to how Waller County may grow, how families may commute, how freight may move, and how local roads may handle the next generation of development.

The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing 36A North as a new north-south highway facility from Interstate 10 west of Katy to U.S. Highway 290 west of Waller. The proposed project would be approximately 20 to 25 miles long and would primarily serve Waller County, where growth pressures are increasingly being felt along rural roadways, subdivision corridors and commercial development areas.

TxDOT says the purpose of the 36A North Project is to improve north-south mobility between I-10 and US 290 within the study area. The project remains in the early stages of development, and no preferred alternative has been selected.

Why 36A North Matters for Waller County Residents

The 36A North Project is being studied at a time when Waller County is changing quickly. What has long been a largely rural area on the western edge of the Houston region is seeing more homes, more jobs, more freight movement and more pressure on roads that were not originally designed to serve major regional traffic.

According to TxDOT’s draft Purpose and Need document, FM 359 and FM 362 currently serve as the primary north-south routes in the study area. Both are two-lane roadways, include several sharp curves, intersect local roads at grade, and have numerous driveways connecting directly to travel lanes. TxDOT says those characteristics affect traffic flow and limit how well the existing network can handle long-term mobility needs.

The agency’s documents state that FM 359 and FM 362 are projected to experience moderate to severe congestion by 2045 if growth continues. For residents, that could mean longer travel times, less reliable commutes, more bottlenecks and continued strain on local routes used by school buses, emergency vehicles, farm traffic, commuters and commercial trucks.

What TxDOT Is Proposing

The proposed 36A North roadway would include four main lanes in each direction, separated by a grassy median. TxDOT also says the project would include intermittent frontage roads where needed to maintain access to adjacent properties and roadways, dedicated pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, drainage elements and a variable right-of-way width.

Because the project is still being studied, the final route, right-of-way needs, construction details and environmental impacts have not yet been determined. TxDOT has stated that all preliminary alignment alternatives are anticipated to require right-of-way acquisition, but the amount and location would depend on which alternative, if any, advances through the environmental review process.

The study area generally extends from I-10 on the south to US 290 on the north, with the Brazos River and western Waller County line forming the western boundary. TxDOT says the study area was also designed to avoid the primary land holdings of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, formerly known as the Katy Prairie Conservancy, to the greatest extent practicable.

Growth, Development and Traffic Demand Are Driving the Discussion

TxDOT’s draft materials point to regional growth as a major reason the project is being studied. Waller County’s population grew by approximately 42 percent from 2010 to 2022, rising from 43,558 to 61,894 residents. By 2045, Waller County’s population is projected to grow by 192 percent compared with the 2020 population level.

The development pipeline is also significant. TxDOT’s documents cite more than nine new subdivision developments approved by Waller County Commissioners Court in 2025, along with more than 30 additional subdivision developments either approved or under negotiation. According to Waller County officials cited in the TxDOT materials, those developments are expected to bring more than 200,000 new residents to the county.

Jobs are growing as well. TxDOT’s draft Purpose and Need document states that jobs in Waller County increased by 21 percent between 2018 and 2023 and are projected to increase by 11 percent between 2023 and 2028. The agency also notes that warehousing and storage businesses are among the largest and fastest-growing industries in the county, with distribution activity near US 90, US 290, Hempstead and Waller contributing to increased freight traffic.

For homeowners and local businesses, that broader picture matters. Transportation planning can influence commute patterns, development interest, property access, drainage planning, emergency response routes and the way communities grow around major corridors.

Click to enlarge. (Source: TxDOT)

Environmental Review Will Look at More Than Traffic

The 36A North Project is going through an Environmental Impact Statement process, commonly known as an EIS. That means TxDOT will study a range of possible alternatives and evaluate potential effects before a final decision is made.

The alternatives analysis is expected to consider engineering, cost, right-of-way, utilities, airspace, bridge length, grade-separated interchanges and public input. It will also review potential community and environmental factors, including residential and business displacements, farmland impacts, community cohesion, access and travel patterns, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, visual impacts, archeological sites, cemeteries, historic properties, protected lands, wetlands, streams, rivers, drinking water systems, floodplains, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, hazardous materials, oil and gas wells, pipelines, railroads and traffic noise.

TxDOT has also stated that the proposed project could involve construction in wetlands and actions in a floodplain. The extent of those potential impacts will be determined as the project development process moves forward.

Public Scoping Meetings Set for July 2026

TxDOT is holding a virtual public scoping meeting and two in-person open houses to introduce the range of alternatives and gather public feedback.

The virtual public scoping meeting will be available beginning Tuesday, July 14, 2026, by 5 p.m. CT. It will include a pre-recorded video presentation with audio and visual components.

Two in-person open house meetings are also scheduled:

• Tuesday, July 14, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Royal Early Childhood Center Gymnasium, 2505 Durkin Road, Brookshire, TX 77423.

• Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Waller County Fairgrounds, Edmonds Hall, 21988 FM 359, Hempstead, TX 77445.

At the in-person meetings, residents will be able to view the same presentation posted online, review hard copies of project materials, ask questions and submit written comments in any language.

How Residents Can Comment

Public comments are due by Friday, July 31, 2026, and must be received or postmarked by that date to be included in the official public hearing documentation.

Comments may be submitted by mail to:

TxDOT Houston District Office
Attn: Advanced Project Development
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251-1386

Residents may also submit comments by email as shown in the official TxDOT notice.

For questions or access to project materials during the project development process, residents without internet access may call 713-802-5199 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Accessibility and Language Assistance

TxDOT says the public scoping meetings will be conducted in English and Spanish. Interpretation, translation services and disability accommodations may be requested free of charge. Residents who need assistance were asked to contact the TxDOT Public Engagement Coordinator at 713-802-5199 no later than 4 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026.

TxDOT also provided accommodation information in Spanish, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Swahili, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole, reflecting the agency’s stated effort to make the public involvement process accessible to more residents.

What Happens Next

The 36A North timeline stretches across several years and remains subject to change. TxDOT’s current anticipated project schedule shows public scoping in 2026, a public meeting on reasonable alternatives in early 2028, a public hearing on a recommended or preferred alternative in early 2029, and a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision in late 2029.

After that, additional steps such as right-of-way acquisition, detailed design and construction would come later if the project advances.

For now, the most important point for residents is that the process is still open. The project team is seeking input on the range of alternatives, potential environmental constraints, permits or authorizations, significant issues that should be studied in depth and any resources in the study area that may be protected under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.

That makes this a key moment for residents, landowners, business owners, commuters and community leaders to review the maps, understand the study area and share local knowledge before the project moves further into the EIS process.

As Waller County continues to grow between the Katy area and US 290, the 36A North Project will likely remain one of the region’s most closely watched transportation planning efforts.

My Neighborhood News will continue following updates as TxDOT moves through public scoping, alternatives review and future project milestones.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.