Wis. board rejects $500K claim for high-speed rail work

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Claims Board rejected Canadian Pacific Railway's request for more than half a million dollars for helping develop a high-speed rail plan before Gov. Scott Walker killed the project, WISN reported.

The board's decision said the railroad failed to show how the state was negligent. If the railroad wants to pursue payment it should take its arguments to court, the decision said.

The railroad wants $500,715 for work performed in 2009 and 2010 to help Wisconsin prepare a bid for federal funding to build the line between Madison and Milwaukee. The railroad's attorney, Brian Baird, told the board that Canadian Pacific workers developed construction plans and depot designs and even moved into the state Department of Transportation offices to help the agency. But Walker scrapped the project shortly after he won election to his first term in 2010, saying the line would be too expensive to maintain. Canadian Pacific was never paid. For the full story, click here.