Humboldt Bay is better how than Coos Bay? Deeper? Easier to get in and out of in rough weather (which isn't unheard of even when it seems fairly nice onshore)? More/more easily accessible docks (more than one, in Samoa)? Exposure to earthquake/tsumani effects? I'm seeing all of those being roughly equal. But Coos Bay already has an operating railroad, with easier grades (though probably comparable curves) than something that Klimbs the Klamaths. Which of them would be the best port for the State of Jefferson, which would be nearly bankrupt from day 1?

$1/4 mil isn't much money, really, in the Caltrans scheme of things. Not pocket change, but maybe one average-sized, no-frills urban arterial intersection signalization. Chances are Rail had it lying around from some special fund that could only be spent on studies (budgets can pigeonhole things like that). Or else the proponents and the politicians got to the CTC and convinced them to allocate the study funds from some program Rail can use; what else got postponed to fund this study?

In any case, I wouldn't surprised if the study finally says: 1) yes, it could be done, if; 2) you spend a bunch of money, with 3) little hope of ever seeing it paid back, and; 4) the prospect of ongoing large maintenance expenses, which probably won't be fully covered by whatever revenue is reasonably available even if no capital is ever repaid. Then put it into competition with HSR for the almost nonexistent cap and trade money, which is about the only pot that's flexible enough to fund it, and watch who wins. I wouldn't place any bets on that contest.