| Date | Document or Event | Image or PDF |
9/25/12 | Larry Zimmer had on several occasions stated that there is no preferred plan. Chris writes to Diane Ramirez (project director) to point out that when writing the instructions to contractors, rather than letting them choose whatever method they find appealing, it is still necessary to specify the preferred methods of rehabilitation and which methods should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. "I understand that not choosing a specific Alternative variation gives the engineers a broader choice of solutions. But, that is also why describing a clear direction by naming the lower cost, lower impact, pile splicing, as the preferred choice, for pile repair, is so important."
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10/2/12 | Letter to Chris Stevick, Preservation advocate; Craig Lewis, Project Manager GHD, Inc.; Deborah Hirst, Project Manager, CA State Coastal Conservancy; Bill Gamien, Senior Engineer, (SMART)Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit
RE: Trestle Rehabilitation Project - Design Detail Documentation This letter is a summary of intentions and schedule. From Pg 2 “It is the goal of staff to minimize use of the more costly and intrusive steel torque piles, but of course not at the risk of the structural integrity of the trestle. It is also our goal to maximize saving existing timber piles, or portions thereof even when not exposed. In all cases the pile rehabilitation (FRP jackets, pile wrap, steel torque pile or steel pipe splice) will extend to the mean higher high water (MHHW) elevation. Above the MHHW will be the existing pile, or a new timber section when necessary.”
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3/29/13 | PETALUMA TRESTLE REHABILITATION - FINAL DESIGN SUBMITTAL
54 page document describing complete disposal of deck planks & railings, then completely disassembling all parts down to & including the bent caps, setting aside salvageable parts for reuse. •“Timber pile repair per field condition or as directed by engineer” •“Install Helical Steel Pipe Piles (Bents 13-22)” (Ed. - this is the so-called “global failure” zone where piles are less than one degree from plumb. Do calculations of their carrying capacity really make it necessary to replace them with the expensive helical pipe piles?) • After piles repaired, parts would be reinstalled. Any parts too damaged to reuse would be replaced with equivalent wood or better.
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| 7/15/13 | Letter from Chris Stevick to Citizens of Petaluma(email list) re: Let's Keep Petaluma on Track.
Announcing to the public that the groundwork for saving the Trestle has been laid, with plans, engineering & permits in place thanks to $500K Coastal Conservancy grant. Exhorting Petaluma to save the Trestle rather than tear it down. A few misunderstood facts about the trestle.
1. The most visible part of the trestle, the deck and the pilings lead most people to believe the Trestle can't be saved. We now have plans and permits to show that that is not true. It can be saved intact. 2. The existing pilings can be sleeved and spliced to support a restored trestle stringers and deck. 3. Structural elements that you don't notice: the stringers, the bent caps, the ties and the lower pilings are 90% good, can still be used to meet all codes. 4. The restored deck will be replaced to its original level, at top of tracks which will more historic, beautiful and useful than anyone who is alive can remember. 5. The California Coastal Conservancy has been playing the part of the good fairy in this effort. They recognized the significance of Petaluma's historic link and dependence on our River and what we do to it. 6. The City spent 2 cents on the dollar to get the CA Coastal Conservancy's grant to save the Trestle. With 40 pages of engineering plans including all State, County, Federal, jurisdictional and City permits, it was completed in March, 2012. All paid for and shovel ready with a promise of a follow up matching construction grant if the City was interested. And if you haven't heard about it, it's because after a year has passed now the City has yet to announce it.
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2/27/14 | Frances Rivetti writes article for Argus Courier lamenting Trestle Rehabilitation Project is “stalled” In a brief statement (at short notice) by Diane Ramirez, project manager for The Petaluma Trestle Rehabilitation, agreed that the project is stalled. "The engineer's construction estimate provided as part of the design project was approximately five million. To my knowledge we do not have that amount of money available to allocate to the rehabilitation project," she said.
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10/14/14 | Frances Rivetti writes article for her Southern Sonoma Country Life blog
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10/1/17 | Chris Stevick receives Preservation Award for Outstanding Building Talent from Heritage Homes. “…today Christopher Stevick receives an award for outstanding building talents, although he does much more than build.” “Not only does he have skilled hands, but he has made it his passion to study vintage architecture from rooflines down to the smallest ornamental detail.”
“Chris has been a stalwart in the preservation community and some years ago was honored with an award for outstanding leadership in preservation. This was for a host of activities he was involved in such as Heritage Homes, the Trolley Project, Save the Trestle, and more. He works with the city to ensure that preservation is taken seriously.”
“Here’s Chris…in a past Butter and Egg Day parade, pleading for the restoration of the failing train trestle along our riverfront, a project he has devoted himself to for the last 15 years.”
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Full transcript: 
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10/4/17 | Video by John Maher Point by point contrast of presentation by Katherine J. Rinehart on historic trestle designation at Petaluma Museum in 2016 vs Mark Hulbert’s report, (employed by Preservation Architecture, hired by Public Works) as part of the 2/6/12 staff presentation to City Council. You can see the full original video of the staff report including Hulbert’s statements and Chris Stevick’s rebuttal in this timeline at 2/6/12
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3/23/19 | Video of two 80 ton diesels and one 40 ton hopper crossing the Trestle (recorded before 1994). Live load test passed. Pilings are good from mud line to base rock.
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2/21/20 | Video of Chris & Pet Pete explaining why Trestle should be repaired rather than demolished. Includes video of engine on the trestle. | YouTube video:
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3/1/20 | From Petaluma city website:
“Reviving the historic trestle will breathe new life into the downtown area and will revitalize the Petaluma River Turning Basin Area.” | Click the image below
to read full document: |
11/21/20 | Chris Stevick's Petaluma Trestle Facts - (Aka: The Living Room Presentation) Includes highlighted elevations of Trestle Components and a vintage video clip of Railroad engine pulling several cars on the Trestle in the early 1990s.
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5/1/21 | The Petaluma River Promenade SAVE THE TRESTLE organization celebrated a Pianos of Petaluma EXPO outside the Petaluma Arts Center. Participating speakers in support of restoring the Petaluma River trestle for pedestrian use: - Lynn Woolsey, former United States Representative and Petaluma resident
- Petaluma Mayor Teresa Barrett
- Marie McCusker, Director of the Petaluma Visitor and Downtown Association Director
“The City has submitted a request for funding through Assemblyman Damon Connelly’s office – he thought we may get $5 Million.”
“The City plans to have the Trestle wood evaluated to determine what part of the structure is viable. The evaluation is planned for May 2023 and is going to be funded by the City”
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6/1/21 | At their June meeting the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee reaffirmed their commitment to the goals submitted prior to the 2019 community goal setting. | Click the image below to read full document: 
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9/20/21 | Video animation of the Trestle, morphing between how it looks at present with how it will look after restoration. | YouTube video: 
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4/29/22 | Letter to Mayor and City Council from Chris and Elaine Stevick.
Regarding the reasons for rehabilitating the Petaluma Trestle as a Pedestrian destination, supporting our Downtown and city identity, the Trestle fulfills every one of the City goals.
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5/11/22 | John Ramos reports on push to save the old Petaluma train Trestle, transforming it into a riverfront promenade. | YouTube video: 
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6/7/22 | Wendy Brayton's rendering of Trestle as “River Promenade” with Great Petaluma Mill, and other historic structures in the background. | Click the image below 
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6/9/22 | Three bird’s-eye views of Trestle: - Top - As it exists,
- Middle - Surface of extended walkway,
- Bottom - Elly Lichtenstein’s rendering of the “River Promenade” showing how the extended walkway of the Trestle would look in use.
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to see it full size: |
