The City of Milwaukee on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 filed suit against the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC), challenging PSC's decision last month to make the city pay for any utility relocation costs related to construction of a 2.1-mile streetcar line.
Milwaukee filed with Milwaukee County Circuit Court, seeking to reverse the ruling, and arguing that utility companies keep their infrastructure under city streets, and are thus liable must cover some of the costs of moving such materials.
The total cost of moving utilities owned by several electic and telecommunications companies is estimated at up to $25 million, according to the city lawsuit. The companies claim the costs would be much higher. The PSC ruled the city must pay for the relocations.
Milwaukee argues that the PSC does not have the authority to override the city's earlier approval of the streetcar, nor to require the city pay to move utilities' underground lines for the public works project.
The city has pursued its streetcar plan in the face of moves to thwart it from its namesake county and Gov. Scott Walker, as well as dealing with PSC's ruling. The Milwaukee streetcar project has received approval and $54.9 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration.