State board to hear railroad's claim for compensation

MADISON (AP) — A state board will hear Canadian Pacific Railway's claim for compensation due to losses over a high-speed rail proposal abandoned by Gov. Scott Walker.

The company says it lost more than $500,000 in 2009 and 2010 when it helped the state prepare its bid for federal funding for the $810 million passenger rail line connecting Madison and Milwaukee. When Walker became governor, the state Department of Transportation withdrew its application for federal funding and the proposed project died.

Walker argued the rail line would be too expensive to operate and maintain.

The DOT says there was no written contract and that the state has no obligation to pay the claim.