195.07
195.07
Law enforcement. 195.07(1)(1)
Powers. The office shall inquire into the neglect or violation of the laws of this state by railroads, or by the officers, agents or employees thereof, or by persons operating railroads, and shall report violations to the attorney general.
195.07(2)
(2) Attorney general and district attorney to prosecute. Upon request of the office, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial had under, and shall institute and prosecute all necessary actions or proceedings for the enforcement of, laws relating to railroads.
195.07(3)
(3) Actions, character, venue. Any forfeiture, fine or other penalty provided in
chs. 192 to
195 may be recovered as a forfeiture in a civil action brought in the name of the state in the circuit court of Dane County, or in the county that would be the proper place of trial under
s. 801.50.
195.08
195.08
Railroad rates, schedules, service. 195.08(1g)
(1g)
Definition. In this section "schedules" does not include "timetables".
195.08(1r)
(1r) Service rates to be adequate and just. Every railroad shall furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities, and the charges made for the transportation of passengers or property or for any service in connection therewith, or for the receiving, switching, delivering, storing or handling of property shall be reasonable and just, and every unjust and unreasonable charge for such service is prohibited and declared to be unlawful.
195.08(2)
(2) Schedules; publication. Every railroad shall print in plain type and file with the office schedules which shall be open to public inspection showing all rates, fares and charges for the transportation of passengers and property and any service in connection therewith which it has established and which are in force at the time between all points in this state upon its line or any line controlled or operated by it. The schedules shall plainly state the places upon its line or any line controlled or operated by it in this state between which passengers and property will be carried, and there shall be filed therewith the classification of freight in force.
195.08(3)
(3) Schedules, rules and regulations. Every railroad shall publish with and as a part of such schedules all rules and regulations that in any manner affect the rates charged or to be charged for the transportation of passengers or property, its charges for delay in loading or unloading cars, for track and car service or rental and for demurrage, switching, terminal or transfer service, or for rendering any other service in connection with the transportation of persons or property.
195.08(4)
(4) Schedules, copies in depots. Two copies of said schedules for the use of the public shall be kept in every depot, station and office of such railroad in such form and place as to be easily accessible to the public.
195.08(5)
(5) Schedules, joint rates. When passengers or property are transported over connecting lines in this state, and the several railroads operating the lines establish joint rates, fares and charges, a schedule thereof shall in like manner be printed and filed with the office and in every depot, station and office of the railroads.
195.08(7)
(7) Changes in schedule. No change shall be made in any schedule, or in any classification, unless the change shall be plainly indicated upon existing schedules, or by filing new schedules in lieu thereof, 30 days prior to the time the same are to take effect. Copies of all new schedules shall be filed as hereinbefore provided in every depot, station and office of such railroad at places to or from which the rates in such schedules apply, 30 days prior to the time the same are to take effect, unless the office of the commissioner of railroads shall prescribe a less time.
195.08(9)
(9) Complaint against change in schedules. Whenever a complaint is filed with the office before any change in any schedule, or in any classification, rule, regulation or practice becomes effective to the effect that the change is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, the office shall give notice to the railroad that a complaint has been made, may direct the department to investigate the complaint and shall set the complaint for hearing. Any report of the department shall be presented to the office only at the hearing on the complaint. The office may, in its discretion, by order, stay the change pending the determination of the matters investigated at any time before the change shall take effect. If the change complained of is found unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, the change shall not take effect and, if the change has become effective, the office shall order the discontinuance thereof. The office may fix and order substituted for any such change such rates, joint rates, fares, charges, classification, rule, regulation, practice or service as it shall have determined to be just and reasonable and which shall be charged, imposed or followed in the future, and shall make such order respecting such rule, regulation, practice or service as it shall determine to be reasonable and which shall be observed and followed in the future. Procedure and notice shall be as provided in
s. 195.04 (2) to
(4).
195.08(10)
(10) Reasonable joint rates. Whenever passengers or property are transported over connecting lines of railroad between points in this state, and the railroads have made joint rates for the transportation of the same, such rates and all charges in connection therewith shall be just and reasonable; provided, that a less charge by any of said railroads for its proportion of such joint rates than is made locally between the same points on their respective lines shall not for that reason be construed as a violation of law.
195.08(11)
(11) Freight classification. There shall be but one classification of freight which shall be uniform on all railroads.
195.09
195.09
Commodity rates. Concentration, commodity, transit and other special contract rates are permitted, but all such rates shall be open to all shippers for a like kind of traffic under similar circumstances and conditions, and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
195.10
195.10
Emergency rates. The office shall have power, when deemed by it necessary to prevent injury to the business or interests of the people or railroads of this state in consequence of interstate rate wars, or in case of any other emergency to be judged of by the office, to temporarily alter, amend, or, with the consent of the railroad company concerned, suspend any existing passenger rates, freight rates, schedules and orders on any railroad or part of railroad in this state. Such rates so made by the office shall apply on one or more of the railroads in this state or any portion thereof as may be directed by the office, and shall take effect at such time and remain in force for such length of time as may be prescribed by the office.
195.10 History
History: 1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123.
195.11
195.11
Discriminations prohibited. 195.11(1)
(1) If any railroad, or any agent or officer thereof, shall directly or indirectly, or by any device whatsoever, charge, demand, collect or receive a greater, less or different compensation for the transportation of persons or property or of any service in connection therewith than that prescribed in the tariffs then in force, or than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person, firm or corporation for a like and contemporaneous service, such railroad shall be deemed guilty of unjust discrimination, which is hereby prohibited.
195.11(2)
(2) It shall be unlawful for any railroad to demand, charge, collect or receive from any shipper a less compensation for the transportation of property or for any service rendered or to be rendered by said railroad, in consideration of said shipper furnishing any part of the facilities incident thereto; but any railroad may rent any facilities incident to transportation and pay a reasonable rental therefor, but no payment shall be made by any carrier to an industry for performing any part of the service incident to the origination or determination of carload line haul shipments which the carriers have assumed to perform under the provisions of the bill of lading.
195.12
195.12
Preference by carriers prohibited. If any railroad shall make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, firm or corporation, or shall subject any person, firm or corporation to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever, such railroad shall be deemed guilty of unjust discrimination, which is hereby prohibited.
195.13
195.13
Rebates and concessions, unlawful to accept. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation knowingly to accept or receive any rebate, concession or discrimination in respect to transportation of property wholly within this state, or for any service in connection therewith, whereby any such property shall, by any device whatsoever, be transported at a less rate than that named in the tariffs in force, or whereby any service or advantage is received other than is therein specified. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.
195.13 History
History: 1997 a. 254.
195.14
195.14
Free transportation; reduced rates, passes, limitations. 195.14(1)(1) This chapter does not prohibit the carriage, storage or handling of freight free or at reduced rates for the United States, the state, or any municipality thereof, or for charitable purposes, or to and from fairs and expositions for exhibition thereat, or household goods the property of railway employees, or commodities shipped by employees for their exclusive use or consumption; or the issuance of mileage, commutation, party or excursion passengers' tickets; or the sale of such tickets as were usually and customarily sold at reduced rates prior to June 15, 1905; provided the same are issued and sold without discrimination to all persons applying therefor under like circumstances and conditions.
195.14(2)(a)(a) Railroads may give transportation free or at reduced rates to any minister of the gospel, officers or agent of incorporated colleges, inmates of soldiers' homes, regular agents of charitable societies when traveling upon the business of the society only, destitute and homeless persons, railroad officers, attorneys, physicians, directors, employees or members of their families, or to former railroad employees or members of their families where the employees have become disabled in the railway service, or are unable from physical disqualification to continue in the service, or to members of families of deceased railroad employees.
195.14(2)(b)
(b) Railroads may exchange passes with officers, attorneys, physicians or employees of other railroads and members of their families. No person holding any public office or position under the laws of this state shall be given transportation free or at reduced rates that are not open to the public, except that notaries public and regular employees of a railroad or other public utility who are candidates for or hold public office for which the annual compensation is not more than $300 to whom no passes or privileges are extended beyond those that are extended to other regular employees of such corporations may be granted free transportation or reduced rates for the transmission of any message or communication.
195.14(3)
(3) Upon any shipment of livestock or other property of such nature as to require the care of an attendant, the railroad may furnish to the shipper or persons designated by the shipper, free transportation for such attendant, including return passage to the point at which the shipment originated; provided, there shall be no discrimination in reference thereto.
195.14(4)
(4) Except as provided in this section, no free transportation for intrastate traffic shall be given by any railroad.
195.15
195.15
Transportation contracts, filed. Every railroad shall, when required and within the time fixed by the office, deliver to the office for its use copies of all contracts which relate to the transportation of persons or property, or any service in connection therewith, made or entered into by it with any other railroad or any shipper or other person doing business with it.
195.15 History
History: 1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123.
195.16
195.16
Pass lists. Every railroad shall keep and for 2 years preserve a record of every railroad ticket, pass or mileage book issued to a resident of this state free or for a money consideration less than that charged the general public. Such record shall consist of the name of the recipient, the amount received, and the reason for issuance, and shall be open to inspection by the office upon reasonable notice during such period of 2 years.
195.17
195.17
Interstate rate investigation, petition for relief, tariffs filed. The office may investigate all freight rates on interstate traffic affecting Wisconsin, and when the same are, in the opinion of the office, excessive or discriminatory or are levied or laid in violation of the law, or in conflict with the rulings, orders or regulations of the interstate commerce commission, the office shall present the facts to the interstate carrier, with a request to make such changes as the office may advise and, if such changes are not made within a reasonable time, the office shall petition the interstate commerce commission for relief. All freight tariffs issued by any railroad relating to interstate traffic in this state shall be filed with the office when issued.
195.17 History
History: 1981 c. 347;
1993 a. 16,
123.
195.19
195.19
Depots; relocation of facilities. 195.19(1)
(1)
Passenger. Every railroad shall provide and maintain adequate passenger depots equipped with proper toilet facilities at its regular stations for the accommodation of passengers, and said depots shall be kept clean, well-lighted and warmed, for the comfort and accommodation of the traveling public, and shall be kept open continuously from not less than 20 minutes before any train carrying passengers is scheduled to arrive and until such train has departed and for such longer period in any case as the office may determine is necessary for the convenience and accommodation of the public. Where the office determines that the service of certain trains in making stops on signals is in excess of reasonably adequate service, the provisions of this section shall not apply in connection with the rendition of such service.
195.19(2)
(2) Freight. All railroads shall keep and maintain adequate and suitable freight depots, buildings, switches and sidetracks for the receiving, handling and delivering of freight transported or to be transported by such railroads.
195.19(3)
(3) Union depot. In every city, village or town in which 2 or more railroads maintain passenger depots, it shall be the duty of such railroads to construct, maintain and use an adequate union passenger depot, whenever practical and required by public convenience and necessity. If, after investigation, the office shall determine that it is practicable and that public convenience and necessity required the construction, maintenance and use of a union passenger depot in any such city, village or town the office may order such railroads to construct, maintain and use an adequate union passenger depot, and shall in such order fix the location of such depot. If the railroads shall be unable to agree upon an apportionment of the original cost of such union passenger depot, and the expense of maintaining the same, within 20 days after the service of such order, the office may, after a hearing, issue a supplemental order declaring the apportionment of such original cost and the expense of maintaining such depot.
195.19(4)
(4) Relocation of railroad facilities. Any city, village or town may cooperate with a railroad in grade crossing elimination or relocation, elimination or relocation of switchyards, roundhouses or terminals and may appropriate or borrow money therefor.
195.20
195.20
Joint use of railroad property. Whenever, upon complaint and after hearing had, the office finds that public convenience and necessity require the use by one or more railroads of the tracks, wires, poles, rights-of-way, switches, bridges or other property belonging to another railroad over or on any street, railroad, railway, right-of-way, bridge or viaduct, upon or over which said railroads have a right to operate, and that such use will not prevent the owners or other users thereof from performing their public duties, nor result in irreparable injury to such owners or other users thereof, the office may, by order, direct that such use be permitted, and prescribe a reasonable compensation and reasonable terms and conditions for such joint use.
195.20 History
History: 1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123.
195.21
195.21
Warehouses. Any person proposing to erect or maintain a public elevator or public warehouse for the purchase, sale, storage, receiving or shipping of grain, or other personal property, to be received from or transported upon any railroad, shall be furnished by such railroad at a reasonable rental, a site upon its right-of-way or depot grounds, within the yard limits of any station or terminal of such railroad; and any private elevator or warehouse situated upon such grounds may be converted into a public elevator or warehouse at the option of the owner, upon notice in writing to the railroad and thereby be permitted to remain thereon under the same conditions as provided herein for a public elevator or warehouse; and the office shall, upon application by such owner, if the public interest so requires, by order, direct the railroad to furnish such site and the office shall make reasonable regulations therefor and in case of disagreement, the office shall determine the rental therefor. Elevators and warehouses erected or maintained under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be subject to such rules and regulations as to charges and the manner of conducting business as the office shall prescribe.
195.21 History
History: 1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123,
490.
195.22
195.22
Car supply and freight delivery. 195.22(1)
(1) Every railroad shall, when possible and upon application and reasonable notice, furnish suitable cars to all persons for the transportation of freight in carload lots and shall use reasonable diligence in moving freight and making delivery thereof.
195.22(2)
(2) In case of insufficiency of cars at any time to meet all requirements, such cars as are available shall be distributed among the several applicants therefor in proportion to their respective immediate requirements without discrimination between shippers or places; but preference may be given to shipments of livestock and perishable property.
195.22 History
History: 1973 c. 157;
1977 c. 203.
195.24
195.24
Interchange of traffic. All railroads shall afford reasonable and proper facilities for the interchange of traffic between their respective lines for forwarding and delivering passengers and freight, and shall transfer, switch for a reasonable compensation, and deliver without unreasonable delay or discrimination any freight or cars destined to any point on its tracks or any connecting lines; and shall give precedence over other freight to livestock and perishable freight.
195.25
195.25
Medical supplies on trains. 195.25(1)
(1) No railroad company shall operate any train that is not equipped with at least one medical emergency case with suitable equipment which shall be at all times kept in a definitely fixed, convenient and accessible place on such trains.
195.25(2)
(2) Any railroad company violating this section shall forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100. Any person who shall remove or destroy or cause the removal or destruction of the medical supplies required under
sub. (1) after the railroad company has supplied them shall be subject to the same penalty.
195.25 History
History: 1985 a. 187;
1997 a. 254.
195.26
195.26
Safety devices; block system. Every railroad shall adopt reasonably adequate safety measures and install, operate and maintain reasonably adequate safety devices for the protection of life and property. If after investigation the office shall determine that public safety requires it, the office may order the railroad to install, operate and maintain a block system or other safety device or measure as may be necessary to render the operation of such railroad reasonably safe.
195.26 History
History: 1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123.
195.27
195.27
Safe tracks and bridges. Every railroad shall construct and maintain its tracks, bridges and line structures in a reasonably adequate and safe manner. The office may direct the department to investigate complaints in the manner provided by
s. 195.04. If, upon hearing, the office determines that the track or structures of any railroad are inadequate or unsafe for the operation of its railroad, the office shall order the railroad to reconstruct or repair the inadequate or unsafe track or structures.
195.28
195.28
Protecting grade crossings. 195.28(1)
(1)
Petition; hearing; order. Upon petition of the department, city council, village board, town board, superintendent of highways or by 5 or more electors in any town, village or city, or of any railroad corporation or railroad historical society, to determine whether a public highway and railroad grade crossing protects and promotes public safety, the office may investigate and issue an appropriate order without a public hearing. If the petitioner, railroad, railroad historical society or any interested party objects to the order and requests a hearing within 20 days after the date that the order is issued, the office shall proceed under
s. 195.04. Notice of an investigation or hearing shall be served upon the department, which shall be an interested party, and any recommendation it may file with the office at or prior to a hearing, if there is one, regarding crossing protection shall be considered as evidence in the proceeding. The office shall determine whether the existing warning devices at such crossing are adequate to protect and promote public safety. If the office determines, either without or after a hearing, that protection is not adequate, it may order the railroad company or railroad historical society to keep a flagman at the crossing or to install automatic signals or other suitable safety device at specific locations at such crossing. The office may order the relocation of existing signals and devices to improve protection at a crossing. Any crossing protection installed or maintained as approved by the office, whether by order or otherwise, shall be deemed adequate and appropriate protection for the crossing.
195.28(2)
(2) Installation costs. The cost of any signal or other crossing protection device which is ordered installed under
sub. (1) and the cost of installing any such device shall be paid by the department from the appropriations under
s. 20.395 (2) (gj),
(gr) and
(gx).
195.28(3)
(3) Maintenance costs. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the cost of maintaining crossing protection devices ordered under
sub. (1) shall be the responsibility of the railroad or railroad historical society. Any railroad company or railroad historical society that incurs expenses for maintenance of signals or other safety devices may file a claim for reimbursement with the department regardless of the date of installation of the signals or devices. At the close of each fiscal year the department shall reimburse claimants under this subsection for 50% of the costs, as determined by the office, incurred for maintenance of railroad crossing protection devices from the appropriations under
s. 20.395 (2) (gj) and
(gq). If the amount in the appropriations under
s. 20.395 (2) (gj) and
(gq) is not adequate to fund maintenance reimbursement under this subsection, the amount shall be prorated in the manner determined by the office.
195.28(4)
(4) Previous office orders. Subsection (3) applies to maintenance costs for all crossing protection devices regardless of any prior order of the office apportioning maintenance costs.
195.285
195.285
Exempt railroad crossings. 195.285(1)
(1) Upon the petition of a railroad corporation, the department, or the governing body of any city, village, town or county asserting that the stopping of vehicles under
s. 346.45 at a railroad crossing is hazardous to human life, the office shall hold a hearing on the matter as provided under
s. 195.04. Notice of petition shall be served upon the department, which shall be an interested party, and any recommendations it may file with the office regarding the hazardous effect of vehicles stopping at such crossings shall be considered as evidence in the proceedings. Upon the recommendation of the department and concurrence by the office, the petition may be dismissed without holding a hearing. If, upon the public hearing, the office determines that it would be in the public interest to exempt vehicles specified in
s. 346.45 from stopping at such grade crossing, it may order the public body having jurisdiction over the highway to erect signs, signals, markings or other devices exempting such vehicles from stopping at the crossing.
195.285(2)
(2) Signs placed upon the order of the office under this section shall exempt vehicles from stopping as required under
s. 346.45, unless a train or engine is occupying or approaching the crossing.
195.285(3)
(3) The department shall establish standards for the type of signs, signals, markings or other devices for exempting vehicles from stopping as required under
s. 346.45 and their location in relation to the highway and railroad track. The office may upon petition or its own motion, with or without a hearing, order the removal of a sign exempting vehicles from stopping at a crossing.
195.286
195.286
Highway crossings, advance warning signs. 195.286(1)(1)
Railroads to furnish; placement. Each railroad company shall furnish to each county in which it operates, upon request of the county highway commissioner, a sufficient quantity of advance warning signs to enable the county and town to comply with this section. The county highway commissioner on roads maintained by the county and the town board on roads maintained by the town shall immediately install and thereafter maintain such signs in good condition, near each grade crossing (other than state trunk highway crossings and crossings within the limits of cities and incorporated villages). The town board shall requisition its needs for advance warning signs from the county highway commissioner. The cost of such installation and maintenance shall be paid out of moneys received by the county or town, as the case may be, for highway maintenance. The department shall provide, install and maintain advance warning signs at all railroad grade crossings on the state trunk highway system outside of cities and incorporated villages. The department, upon petition and upon investigation and finding that such signs are impracticable or unnecessary on any highway, may release the town, county or state from the provisions of this section as to such highway.
195.286(2)
(2) Signs described. Such signs shall be round and of a size, color and message as specified by the department and approved by the office. Any change in these signs shall not be retroactive.
195.286(3)
(3) Location. Such signs shall be placed in conspicuous locations beside every highway which crosses a railroad at grade (outside of cities and incorporated villages) as near as practicable to the traveled portion of the highway on each side of such crossing, at a location and in a manner to be prescribed by the department, the county highway commissioner or the town board, or, if the crossing is so near city or village limits that the sign will be within such limits, by the city council or the village board, as the case may be.
195.286(4)
(4) Duplicates. In case any sign installed as provided in this section, other than that on the state trunk highway system, is destroyed or becomes illegible by any cause whatsoever, the railroad company, upon request from the county highway commissioner, shall forthwith deliver another such sign at the crossing near which it is to be installed; neither the installation of said signs nor the failure to install or maintain the same shall render the town, county or state liable for any accident that may occur by reason of such installation or neglect.
195.286(5)
(5) Other signs prohibited. No other sign of the general size or appearance of the signs provided for in this section shall be placed or permitted upon any highway, nor any sign between such advance signs except signs or signals now required by law or permitted by the office for protection at railway crossings.
195.286(6)
(6) Penalties relating to fences. Any person who removes, throws down, injures or defaces any sign required by this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $25.
195.286(7)
(7) Penalties generally. Any person or corporation upon conviction for the violation of any of the provisions of this section, except
sub. (6), shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $50 for each violation.
195.286(8)
(8) Prosecutions. The district attorney shall prosecute any person violating this section, or begin and maintain any civil action necessary for its enforcement upon the demand of any county highway commissioner, the department, or the office.
195.286 History
History: 1977 c. 29 ss.
1301,
1654 (8) (b), (9) (e);
1977 c. 272; Stats. 1977 s. 195.286;
1981 c. 347 s.
80 (1);
1993 a. 16,
123;
1997 a. 254.
195.29
195.29
Railroad highway crossings. 195.29(1)
(1)
Petition, hearing, order. Upon petition by the common council or board of any city, village, town or county within or bordering upon which a highway or street crosses a railroad, or a highway or street is proposed to be laid out across a railroad, or a public highway bridge across a railroad is required to connect existing streets or highways, or upon petition by any railroad whose track crosses or is about to cross, or is crossed or about to be crossed by a street or highway, or upon petition by the department, in cases where provision has been made for the improvement of the highway adjacent to such crossing under any state aid or federal aid law, that public safety requires an alteration in such crossing, its approaches, the method of crossing, the location of the highway or crossing, or the closing of the crossing, and the substitution of another therefor at grade or not at grade, or the removal of obstructions to the view at such crossing, the relocation of the highway, or requires the determination of the manner of making such new crossing, or of making the proposed improvement or promoting the public safety or public convenience through any other reasonable method, and praying that the same may be ordered, the office shall give notice to the parties in interest and proceed to investigate the same and to order a hearing thereon in the manner provided by
s. 195.04. The office shall determine what, if anything, shall be done to promote the public safety and the means by which it shall be accomplished, whether by the relocation of the highway, the alteration in such crossing, approaches, mode of crossing, location of highway crossing, closing of highway crossing, with or without the substitution of another therefor, the construction of a public highway bridge, the removal of obstructions to sight at crossing, or by the use of other reasonable methods, and by whom the same shall be made, and in case of new crossings the advisability of allowing such crossings to be established and manner of making them.
195.29(2)
(2) Apportionment of expense. The office shall fix the proportion of the cost and expense of alterations, removals and new crossings, or any other work ordered, including the damages to any person whose land is taken, and the special damages which the owner of any land adjoining the public street or highway shall sustain by reason of a change in the grade of such street or highway, or by reason of the removal of obstructions to view at such crossings, to be paid or borne by the railroad companies and the municipalities in interest. In fixing such proportion, the office may order such cost and expense so apportioned to be paid by the parties against which the apportionment shall be made.
195.29(3)
(3) Restoration of spur tracks. Whenever the office shall have ordered a separation of the grade of a railway from the grade of a street or highway, it may, if safe and practicable and if a necessity exists therefor, order the alteration, restoration and connection of any track serving an industry. Demand for such restoration shall be in writing and filed with the office within 90 days after the date of the order for the separation of grades, and any such track for which no such demand shall have been made shall be deemed abandoned. If the office shall order the alteration, restoration and connection of any such track, it shall by its order apportion the cost thereof between the owner of the industry served and the railway company, in such proportion as to the office may seem just and equitable; and the office shall in its order prescribe the terms and conditions for securing the payment of such cost.
195.29(4)
(4) Grade separation in Milwaukee County. The office may upon petition of any town, city or village, or upon its own motion, when the interests of the public demand it and it is found practicable so to do, establish the grade of the tracks of any railroad, or of all the railroads throughout any county having a population of 500,000 or more, or any part thereof, and the grades of the streets or highways, or any of them, where they cross such railroad track or tracks, in anticipation of the future separation of grades of the railroad tracks from the grades of such streets or highways. The office, before making any such order, shall mail notice to the railroad company or companies affected, the owners or occupants of any building abutting on that part of the railroad the grade of which is to be established, all 1st class cities in the county, and if the grades to be established are outside the 1st class city, the towns, cities or villages in which such grades are to be established, of the filing of such petition or that the office contemplates establishing such grades, and fixing a time at which the 1st class cities and such other towns, cities or villages and the railroad company or companies affected thereby and any other person or corporation interested therein may be heard. The grades so established under this subsection shall be described by reference to a base or datum line to be established by the office, from which all elevations and the height of all grades shall be measured, and the grades so established shall be such that when brought to the established grade the railroad tracks will cross the streets and highways above or below the same. Such order shall not necessarily require a present change in grade but the office may at any time order the railroad track or tracks and the street and highways brought to the grade established or any street or highways closed by the order, in accordance with
sub. (1), and may, at the time of making the order, apportion the cost of separating the grades as provided in
sub. (2).
