BENTONVILLE — The city has received federal money to add a trail west of North Walton Boulevard.

The City Council Tuesday expressed willingness to use the $225,803 to help build about 1.5 miles of trail between Northwest 13th Street and where Southwest I Street connects with North Walton Boulevard.

The multiuse trail will be 10 feet wide and concrete, according to agenda documents.

The trail will connect to the Heritage Trail on Southwest I Street and eventually will connect to the North Bentonville Trail, said Shelli Kerr, Planning Services manager.

“Our goal is to ultimately make that connection,” she said. “(This is) our first step.”

The trail will help the city achieve its goal of “safe and easily accessible pedestrian facilities along (North) Walton (Boulevard) and into neighborhood residential areas,” which is part of the North Walton Boulevard Corridor Enhancement Plan adopted in February 2013.

The city applied for Transportation Alternatives Program in the fall to help with the project. The federal money is administered by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

The $225,803 will cover part of the project’s estimated $717,224 cost. City officials are looking for other grants to help with the cost, Kerr said.

The grant requires the project be bid by September, Kerr said. The construction timeline will be included in the bid. The goal is to start construction next fall.

One major benefit of the trail will be its part in developing trails west of North Walton Boulevard, said David Wright, parks and recreation director.

“From a trail planning standpoint, we’re trying to put an emphasis on that,” he said.

Bentonville has 22 trails extending 40 miles, according to the city’s trail guide.

The guide’s map shows the 2.11-mile Heritage Trail on Southwest I Street and the 2.26-mile North Bentonville Trail are the only two trails west of North Walton Boulevard.

Several of the trails are part of the 32-mile Razorback Regional Greenway stretching from Bella Vista to Fayetteville.