BACKGROUND

The Petaluma Railroad Trestle was built in 1921-1922 by the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad for the convenience of the George P. McNear's Feed Mill where the Great Petaluma Mill shops are today. It became part of the rails and right-of-way of several successive railroad companies, and even after the old Feed Mill was converted for alternative uses the Trestle was still carrying locomotives into the mid 90s . Eventually it was purchased by SMART as part of the right-of-way needed to build the light rail line between Marin and Sonoma. Maintenance of the trestle fell between the cracks as the City of Petaluma didn't own it, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad didn't care about it and SMART, after purchasing it as part of the right of way didn't need it. As the decking continued to rot it became a safety hazard and since no one volunteered to repair or replace it the City fenced it off from pedestrian use. Though still picturesque (it appears in numerous photos, brochures, promotions as part of the historic downtown) up close below the rotting deck it looked pretty shabby. Metal parts and wooden braces were falling off, debris was collecting in the mud and the pilings were being gnawed away between the high and low tide lines by ship worms. However, locals dedicated to historic preservation could see that the bones were still salvageable.

Chris Stevick, a contractor with expertise in restoring historic buildings, and other groups like Heritage Homes, could see that enough of the original structure was actually intact and restoration would be possible. They thought the trestle should be recognized as part of the Historic Downtown, and even if never used for locomotives it would extend the public walkway and create more space for outdoor events. They started lobbying the City of Petaluma to do something about it and were instrumental in obtaining a $500,000 grant in 2010 from the California Coastal Commission for an engineering study of the trestle to determine the true condition of the existing structure and determine what would be required to transform it from a hazardous eyesore into a safe, permanent Promenade for walking along the river.

A summary of important steps forward and set-backs to restoration efforts

January 28, 2002 - Archaeological Resource Service produced a report on the Trestle pointing out its location in the middle of the historic district, its significance to Petaluma's early commercial success, and its iconic identity.

The Trestle Restoration Project

TRESTLE HISTORY