This is a bit last minute as I intended to send this email out earlier in the week but time got away from me after I started drafting it. If you have a few minutes before the end of the day (7/31/26), please contact TxDOT with your concerns about their plans for building yet another highway in the state that will only expand development, and in this case, also encourage flooding.
I’ll keep this brief today but next week I’ll discuss the Katy Prairie in more detail.
TxDOT is proposing a new highway, 36A, which has North and South components. The south component has already had scoping meetings and news chatter since 2024 but the north component is really only hitting the news this month as the comment period ends today. Both components are problematic for coastal plains ecosystems and rural demographics. Roads beget development and Houston is no stranger to unregulated growth. I say “Houston”, even though much of this isn’t Houston proper, because at this point where does it really end? Anyway, don’t take it from me, here’s what the West Houston Association said in 2024 regarding planned roadway growth in western Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties:
“The expansion of toll roads and highways in Fort Bend County fosters development, enhances connectivity, and drives economic growth. Planned investments such as Grand Parkway Segment C, Missouri City Park and Ride, widening of US-90 and IH-10, extension of Westpark Toll Road to Fulshear, extension of Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road eventually to SH-36, and continued evaluation and planning of Highways 36A, are synergistically bolstering the greater Houston region and enhancing our economic vitality. These expansions facilitate access to new land for housing and commercial developments, improve connections to existing employment centers, and enhances social integration by linking diverse communities, ultimately contributing to the county’s prosperity and quality of life. Connecting Communities will feature a discussion on the development these projects have enabled, and how they are coming together through financing, interlocal agreements, and operations and maintenance.” - West Houston Association - bold emphasis mine.
Here are the proposed alternatives. The Coastal Prairie Conservancy, formerly the Katy Prairie Conservancy, is asking people to submit comments to TxDOT supporting Alternative 2 if this highway must be built as it would have the least impact on their currently protected properties. Of course, feel free to tell them not to build it at all, too.
I have seen what SH 99/Grand Parkway (Houston’s THIRD loop!) has done in the last decade+ since it opened and all it has done is rapidly encourage development in every area it was built in, including western Harris county.
Ah, and I see there is a Highway 36A Coalition where this project looks like it probably dates back to at least 2013 in the “Hmm, we should built a highway here in 20 years” dreams for the counties and developers involved.
For more information:
Coastal Prairie Conservancy - Check their News section for information about their position.
Contact information for comments:
36ANorth@txdot.gov
TxDOT Houston District
7600 Washington Ave.
Houston, TX 77007
713-802-5076
I doubt we can change having this highway built at this time but we might as well slow the process down and force a least impactful alternative, for now, because sprawl will come anyway.
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