I understand that the line may have some viability issues, but what these politicians don't get is that once it's gone...it's gone forever. It will never, ever be rebuilt. If Tillamook ever wants the hope of bringing in industry and creating a viable port at any point in the next 100 years, they'd better keep that railroad. Because nobody is going to be spending money to build a freeway out there.

Same thing goes for the Port of Coos Bay. Maybe even more so, since they have a decent port, but are even more isolated.

It kind of makes me sick to my stomach to hear the @#$%& over $15 million dollars when the city of portland blew that much money on their portion of the stupid OHSU tram. And how "viable" of a transportation system did that turn out to be for the average citizen?

According to the latest cost estimates of some of the future projected Max lines, $15 million would get you about 300 feet of Max track. I think $15 million to save this 90 mile rail line is a fair bargain.