(1) (a) If a city, village or town improves a street, alley or public highway within its corporate limits, including by grading, curbing or paving, if the entire or partial cost of the improvement is assessed against abutting property, and if the street, alley or public highway is crossed by the track of a railroad engaged as a common carrier, the common council or board of public works of the city, or the village or town board, shall, at any time after the completion and acceptance of the improvement by the municipality, file with the local agent of the railroad corporation operating the railroad a statement showing the amount chargeable to the railroad corporation for the improvement. (b) The amount chargeable to the railroad corporation is the amount equal to the cost of constructing the improvement along the street, alley or public highway immediately in front of and abutting its right-of-way on each side of the street, alley or public highway at the point where the track crosses the street, alley or public highway, based upon the price per square yard, lineal foot or other unit of value used in determining the total cost of the improvement. (2) The amount charged against a railroad corporation for improving the street, alley or public highway, fronting or abutting its right-of-way, may not exceed the average amount per front foot assessed against the remainder of the property fronting or abutting on the improved street, alley or public highway. The amount calculated under sub. (1) and contained in the statement is due and payable by the railroad corporation to the municipality filing the statement within 30 days of the date when the statement is presented to the local representative of the railroad corporation. (3) If a railroad corporation fails or refuses to pay a city, village or town the amount set forth in any statement or claim for street, alley or public highway improvements under this section within the time specified in the statement, the city, village or town has a claim for that amount against the railroad corporation and may maintain an action in any circuit court within this state to recover the amount in the statement. (4) This section does not preclude a city, village or town from using any other lawful method to compel a railroad corporation to pay its proportionate share of a street, alley or public highway improvement.
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