Sec. 1. The Indiana department of transportation shall, upon proper petition by:
(1) five (5) or more citizens of this state; or
(2) a board of county commissioners;
conduct a hearing to declare as dangerous or extra hazardous any grade crossing in this state that the department finds to be of such a character as that the safety of the users of the highway requires the installation of automatic train-activated warning signals or other crossing safety devices. The petition, hearing, and all proceedings must conform with IC 4-21.5.