Sam,
For a city without a research university...a show-stopper for economic development in the 21st century...the quibbling for the tram budget seems foolish. Looking at the big picture, OHSU had better be a big part of our future, or that future will be bleak. Connecting OHSU to South Waterfront is just a no-brainer.
Its ironic, but a lot of the tram costs are due to design that was driven by neighborhood concerns. The tram is a clear case where the greater good trumps the neighborhood. Sorry. And many of the opponents are the usual suspects who oppose any public investment in anything.