An environmental study will be initiated for a proposed transportation project after a series of public hearings expected to start late 2023, according to documents provided by the Texas Department of Transportation.

36A is a TxDOT project that consists of a proposed transportation corridor from I-69 southwest of Rosenburg to Hwy. 6 north of Hempstead Road. The environmental study area includes parts of Fort Bend, Waller, Austin and Harris counties.

TxDOT will conduct two environmental studies for the north and south segments of the project. Before officially initiating the studies, meetings with the public and elected officials will be conducted as TxDOT drafts an environmental impact statement.

TxDOT documents state the project’s purpose is to match projected growth in the study area to avoid congestion issues, improve general connectivity and improve hurricane evacuation route capacity.

Fort Bend County in April passed a resolution calling for the study process to restart. County agenda documents state the process faced delays after being split into north and south segments.