FARMINGTON — The city’s plan to have a new paved biking and walking trail from Creekside Park to the Fayetteville city limits on Alberta Street continues to move forward.

Aaron Boehmler, senior civil engineer with Burns McDonnell of Springdale, said the firm is finished with the preliminary engineering plan and a park conceptual plan and is ready to start on the final trail design.

Farmington City Council last week approved a contract with Burns McDonnell for the final design for $106,700.

The council on Feb. 14 awarded an initial contract for engineering services to Burns for $61,560 for the planning stage of the trail.

The city is proposing a 10-foot-wide trail that would start at the existing pedestrian crossing on Broyles Street at Creekside Park and extend about 0.65 mile to the city limits on the south side of West Alberta Street.

Boehmler said the firm estimates the trail construction will cost about $860,000. The budget includes another $323,000 for luminaires along the trail, associated electrical costs and landscaping for a total projected cost of almost $1.2 million.

Farmington has applied for two grants to help with the project, a $500,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation and a $250,000 grant from Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. The grants are from the Transportation Alternatives Program. Boehmler said the city should receive an answer on its applications in August or September.

Boehmler said he also is meeting with representatives of the Walton Family Foundation about possible funding to help with the trail construction.

“We want to paint the picture Farmington is on board to partner with the foundation,” Boehmler told council members on July 11.

The trail plan includes a trailhead and a new parking lot with 65 spaces located on the east side of Broyles. This parking lot would be available for those using the Farmington Disc Golf Course.

It also calls for another crosswalk on Broyles to connect to the proposed parking lot, along with the current crosswalk that would connect to the new trail. Boehmler said the firm recommends a push button system for the pedestrian crossing because studies show this system is safer than a continuous flashing light.

The “sad news,” Boehmler said, is that Rausch Coleman had agreed to provide an easement for part of the trail connecting at Alberta Street but the company is now selling that property. Boehmler said he will have to talk to the new owner about an easement…