Regular readers will recall my feature article earlier this year shining a spotlight on the dilapidated rail trestle along the riverfront in downtown Petaluma in the historic structure's centenary year.
Things have moved on encouragingly since then, with Petaluma City Council voting in March to put the trestle on its top 10 priority item list. Something has to be done about this major eyesore in the heart of our community and though it's widely recognized how wonderful it would be to see this looming liability transformed into a beautiful boardwalk path and park, the main stumbling block remains in how to raise the funds to make it happen.
There are transportation grants to be had but engineering studies need to be revisited in order for a shovel-ready proposal to make the cut in the coming months. The city will have to show it has no money in its own pot. And it's becoming more and more clear that there will be a big need for substantial private sector donations to bolster whatever comes in from the government.
Petaluma Woman's Club has embraced the trestle as its primary civic project this year and is spearheading a campaign to help the city break ground. I'll be posting again when a new non-profit fundraising portal launches in conjunction with PWC & Petaluma People Services.
In the meantime, check out the Petaluma Woman's Club page to sign a petition to keep the trestle on top of the city's mind.
I attended a special presentation and dinner at the Woman's Club on B Street on October 20th and was encouraged to hear updates from fellow guests County Supervisor David Rabbitt, our city's new Director of Public Works, Christopher Bolt, trestle campaigner, local restoration and preservation contractor Christopher Stevick as well as Petaluma Woman's Club President Colleen Mahoney and member Elaine Stevick.
Also in attendance was historian Katherine Rinehart and city engineer Gina Benedetti-Petnic amongst several other local leaders and dignitaries.
Christopher Stevick (above) has made it his mission over the past two decades to see the trestle restoration come to fruition. His vision has never been closer, but there's a long way to go before we can rest on our laurels that all the many elements are in place for engineers and major contractors to get stuck in behind those wire fences we're so tired of looking at.
It's going to cost at least $6 million to get the job done.
Good thing Director of Public Works Christopher Bolt (pictured above) is an engineer who is passionate about the preservation of historic places. He joins a new leadership at the city level intent on moving forward with an enthusiastic vision for the riverfront. "It's a project that is near and dear to my heart," he said. He and county supervisor David Rabbitt (pictured below) talked about the transferring right of way management of the trestle from SMART and how it is a willing partner in navigating the grant system.
Bolt has spent more than 30 years in civil engineering, public works, utilities, and infrastructure management. Prior to his move to Petaluma this year, he served as Jackson County, Michigan’s assistant county administrator and as managing director of its department of transportation since 2014. He estimated at least two years until we may walk on a newly refurbished trestle.
County Supervisor David Rabbitt is the chairman of SMART. He spoke of the complexities of the project and city, SMART, state and federal sources that would need to be cobbled together along with matching funds from within the community. Regulatory elements are huge and Rabbitt envisions four years plus to project completion.
It's great and fitting to see the Woman's Club members backing this important element of our city's historic infrastructure. When Ida McNear founded the Petaluma Woman’s Club in 1896 she set this as the club's creed: "We desire to do all in our power to make Petaluma an ideal town, that will be known as a town of good citizenship. In the effort for clean streets, good water, pure food and better sanitation, we will constantly be on the alert to aid our street and city officials."
In the spirit of the founding mothers, the Petaluma Woman’s Club is active in supporting the City of Petaluma’s efforts in the Riverfront Trestle Rehabilitation Project.
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