Any town, city or borough may petition the Department of Transportation to provide a mandatory stop on any municipal or state highway approaching a crossing at grade. Upon receipt of any such petition, the department shall fix a time and place of hearing, within a reasonable time, and shall provide notice of such hearing to the public through publication of notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the town, city or borough where such crossing is located. Within sixty days of the hearing the department shall render a written decision on the petition.