Whenever the Department of Transportation, on an application or petition brought under section 7231, finds that a public way crosses or is crossed by tracks of more than one railroad and the tracks of the railroads are so near together that public safety or convenience requires the work of abolishment, reconstruction, alteration, change or removal to be done under and in compliance with one order, the department shall give notice to all the corporations operating the railroads to appear before it and be heard on the application. After notice and hearing the department shall determine what abolishment, reconstruction, alteration, change or removal, if any, of the crossing shall be made and shall determine by whom the work shall be done and shall apportion the percentage of expense to be borne by the railroad corporations between the corporations in such manner as the department shall deem just and proper.   [PL 1989, c. 398, §8 (NEW).]