When the Transportation Board, in the absence of any application therefor, is of the opinion that the public safety requires an alteration in any highway crossed at grade by a railroad, or by railroads belonging to or operated by more than one corporation, or an alteration in lands or buildings thereon adjoining or near such highway at or near such crossing in order to afford proper view from the approaches to such crossing, in each direction, of the track or tracks of such railroad or railroads, after hearing had on notice of not less than ten days to the corporation or corporations owning or operating such railroad or railroads, to the selectboard of the town within which such highway is situated, to the owners of the land adjoining such crossing and the owners of such land or buildings thereon adjoining, or near such highway as may be required for or materially affected by a proposed alteration, and to the Attorney General, who, by himself or herself or through the State's Attorney of the county in which such crossing is located shall represent the interests of the State, it may order such alterations in such highway, and the removal of such obstructions to the view in each direction of the tracks of such railroads, as it deems best, and shall determine and direct by whom, at whose expense and within what time such alterations and removals shall be made. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 1993, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 64.)