The Texas Department of Transportation hosted a public hearing on the FM 518, or Broadway Street, widening project March 26.

Business owners spoke about the potential impact on businesses located along Broadway Street. Craig Slater, owner of Farmers Insurance in Pearland, a business that could potentially be displaced by the project, questioned why TxDOT would funnel more Broadway Street traffic just to have it stopped by the train near Hwy. 35.

"I would like to say thanks to TxDOT for trying to improve and enhance the mobility and safety of those moving through Pearland, but to me there is just one aspect of the project that does not make sense, and that is how we would funnel this much traffic onto a thoroughfare that has a switch track at [FM] 518 and [Hwy.] 35," Slater said.

The project, which will reach from Hwy. 288 to Hwy. 35, will consist of widening the road from 4 to 6 lanes, constructing a 18-foot raised median and 5-foot-wide sidewalks, and converting open ditches to curbs and gutters. Once funded, construction will take three years.

The project is estimated to cost $57 million, TxDOT officials said. However, the funding source has not yet been determined.