There's a new traffic light in Pasco County, and it's all thanks to the efforts of a 14-year old girl.

  • Makayla Trowell pushed for change at Spring Hill intersection
  • She started petition, met with county officials
  • Signal was turned on Tuesday with Trowell's help

Makayla Trowell was frustrated with a dangerous intersection in front of Crews Lake Middle School in Spring Hill.

"Children walk down this street leaving school, and it felt very unsafe," Trowell said.

She couldn't believe there was no traffic light in front of the school. Not even school officials could get one placed there.

"We were told a plan for a light was very far out," said Assistant Principal Danielle White.

When Trowell found out, she took matters into her own hands.

"She jumped into action," White said. "She started a petition. She set up tents outside the school trying to get signatures."

She met with county officials and spread the word about the need for a light.

"Everyone was like, 'I don't know if I could have done that, I'm an adult and I couldn’t have done that.' So it's a great feeling," Trowell said.

 

After all that hard work, she got to turn the light on.

County Commissioner Jack Mariano said Trowell helped get it done much faster than usual.

"I think she did have an impetus – as cute as she is and as passionate as she was about trying to drive it forward, it probably did push it forward a little bit quicker,” Mariano said.

Now students can head to school knowing they'll be safer.

"It's so amazing to know that I did something for the community to help everybody, to make it safer for everybody," Trowell said.

Trowell also wants the road going into the school to be renamed after the school's former principal, Adam Kennedy, who was killed in a car crash on his way to school in January.