Trestle History - 9/25/12 to 7/14/23

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."

Click the image below

to read full document:

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.”

Click the image below

to read full document:

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.

Click the image below

to see cover page:

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.

Click the image below

to read full document:

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.

Click the image below

to read full document:

10/14/14

Frances Rivetti writes article for her Southern Sonoma Country Life blog

Click the image below

to read full document:

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.”

Click the image

to view video

Full transcript:

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

Original YouTube video:

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.

YouTube video:

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:

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.”

Christopher Bolt, Director of Public Works and Capital Improvements, is listed as Project Manager for the Trestle Rehabilitation effort.

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.

YouTube video:

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”

YouTube video:

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:

9/20/21

Video animation of the Trestle, morphing between how it looks at present with how it will look after restoration.

YouTube video:

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.

Click the image below

to read full document:

5/11/22

John Ramos reports on push to save the old Petaluma train Trestle, transforming it into a riverfront promenade.

YouTube video:

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

to see it full size:

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.

Click the image below

to see it full size:

Date	Document or Event	Image or PDF
9/23/22	Trestle Meeting with Christopher Bolt (Petaluma Director of Public Works and Utilities) and Chris and Elaine Stevick. At Chris’ presentation to Leadership Petaluma about the Trestle Rehabilitation Project a week before, Christopher Bolt was present as a class member. After class, Mr. Bolt asked Chris could they get together the following Friday. They met at the Stevick home and covered many important topics.
4/21/23	Petaluma Woman's Club Meeting with City Staff
5/8/23	City Council Claims to have funds for Trestle Rehab	YouTube video:
7/14/23	Porter & Associates submits “Wood Condition Assessment of the Petaluma Trestle, Petaluma, California” to GHD, engineering firm responsible for 2013 Trestle Rehabilitation Design “Moisture content readings taken primarily on the stringers and ties indicate the conditions, at the time of the assessment, were not favorable for active wood decay." “For existing structures, the engineer often relies on assumed species and current standards to determine the adequacy of the wood members to remain in service. Since many structures were built before building codes or design values for wood products were established (and, thus, before grade stamps were used), engineers are often in a quandary when determining what design values are appropriate. Frequently an assumed species and grade are assigned, only to show that the wood members are structurally deficient. The result is often an overly conservative estimate of design values and unnecessary replacement and repair decisions with the associated unnecessary project costs.”(Pg 12) Editor's emphasis “Of the 35 pile caps we were able to inspect, we found nine that … likely require replacement in kind,”(pg 16) “Approximately 23% of the ties have large internal decay voids”(pg 17) “Many of the sway braces are of high-quality wood and are in serviceable condition as is. Should there be a need to repair or replace the piles, the sway braces should be replaced in-kind.” (pg 21) "Because of the combination of species, the structural grade that can be assigned to the pile caps is Select Structural, Redwood Timbers.” “The structural grade of the timber stringers is Select Structural, Douglas Fir - Larch Beams and Stringers” Condition of components: “The pile caps and stringers were pressure treated with creosote. The creosote treatment has largely been effective in protecting the pile caps and stringers against biodeterioration…” Caps “The condition of the pile caps is, generally, poor-to-excellent” (9 out of 35 will require replacement) Stringers “The condition of the stringers is, generally, fair-to-excellent” Ties “Approximately 23% of the ties have large internal decay voids” Piles “Of the 44 piles assessed (out of 180) approximately 75% were solid with no internal voids.” (Pgs 22-23) Timber Grades “The wood species of the structural members in the Trestle (piles, pile caps, stringers, sway braces, and the ties and planks forming the deck) is a combination of Douglas-fir and redwood. Stringers Ties Recommendations 1. Subject to engineering requirements, most of the pile caps can likely remain in service. Some reinforcement or replacement of those with large voids may be necessary. 2. Subject to engineering requirements, most of the stringers can likely remain in service. Repairs or reinforcement of deteriorated stringer ends where they bear on the pile caps should be considered by the structural engineer to provide adequate bearing for the deck, recognizing that there is considerable redundancy provided by the six stringers spanning between bents. 3. The sway braces will need to be replaced if the piles are repaired, in which case the replacement braces should be of Select Structural Douglas Fir – Larch Visually Graded Dimension Lumber. 4. Because of the close spacing of the ties, individual ties with minor deterioration can either be replaced or remain in service so long as remedial preservative treatment (such as borate rods) is applied

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