The Iowa City City Council voted to approve a funding-assistance request to build a median on Burlington Street on Tuesday.

The resolution will allow city staff to apply for grants totaling $750,000.

In order to fully fund the project, an additional $250,000 is needed. The total cost for the new median is projected to be in the $2 million range.

The project is meant to increase pedestrian safety as well as make the median more aesthetically pleasing.

If requests for funding are awarded, the median is projected to be completed in 2013 or 2014.

— by Asmaa Elkeurti