Tram to Graveyard?

History is littered with 'great' public works projects aimed at either building away some horror or evil or at building tomorrow's utopia today. While few would claim such for Portland's tram between the North Macadam district and OHSU, it becomes clearer every day that the project has much in common with these big plans that rarely get built.

I find myself wondering today if all the neighbor's consternation and anger was really worth it. The Tram rarely seemed realistic or needed, therefore, in hindsight, it seems better to let time do the honors of burying the whole thing. I wonder if all the pain, hand-wringing, and gnashing of teeth was really worth it or do those who fought this project so fiercely early on wish they would have done something else with their energies? No, they are probably to busy crowing "We told you so!" to think about such bigger ideas.

I don't fault them as much as wonder when is worth putting effort into fighting something, especially something that will collapse under the weight of its own hubris. How much energy has been put into fighting Geo Bush's war and socially regressive policies and yet where do we get?

Clearly, the key element in success is the power behind the idea. While some fear(ed) present (and past) government officials of Portland, their power is substantially limited when compared with those pulling George's chain. Is it really just about the money that can be put behind the idea? It seems sad that too often we have to wait for money to run out for the ideas to actually die.

So, has anyone created a website listing the great projects that have never materialized? Someone should be cataloguing these follies and the amount of money that is spent on these 'trams to nowhere.'