October 6 marks two years since a Chamberlain High teen was hit and killed along a busy stretch of Busch Boulevard.
Alexis Miranda, 17, was on her way to school when she crossed the road with her friends in an unmarked crosswalk.
"She didn't want to be late," said her mother Valerie Jones, "so you know she just crossed right here."
Jones has turned her mission into honoring her daughter by becoming part of the Vision Zero campaign in Hillsborough County that aims to lower the number of traffic related deaths in the area.
Friday morning, Jones along with friends, family, and transportation leaders will walk in silence in her memory.
Since Miranda's death Florida's Department of Transportation has been conducting traffic studies in the area, but no major changes have been made two years later.
FDOT plans to have a proposed plan next year on the changes to Busch Boulevard that would include better street lighting and additional signage.
FDOT also sent us a breakdown on dates and information on the area in a statement:
We also have several ongoing studies in the area to determine if additional roadway improvements can be made to improve safety and prevent more crashes from happening. We are working with the community and other agency stakeholders to come up with improvements and implement them as quickly as possible:
- Dale Mabry to Nebraska: FDOT is studying this corridor for improvements to improve safety. The study will be proposing some alternatives for the public to review early next year and should be wrapped up by next fall. Then FDOT will begin the design phase for the improvements the study comes up with. Construction is not yet funded. There is a Project Advisory Group meeting October 24th at 10am at the North Blvd library, Busch and North Blvd.
- Nebraska to 56th St: FDOT has proposed three new pedestrian crossings with over-head flashing beacons, intersection improvements and additional street lighting. We are also looking at upgrading the existing crosswalk at Busch and 12th St (just east of Nebraska). This work is going to begin design next year and should be constructed within the next couple of years.
For more information on the study go here: click here.
