At such hearing the secretary of transportation shall preside, or the secretary may designate some suitable person to preside as examiner. The hearing may, at the option of the secretary, be conducted in accordance with federal laws and regulations governing highway design public hearings. The department shall introduce by competent evidence a summary of the proposal for the establishment of a limited access facility and any evidence that supports the adoption of the plan as being in the public interest. At the conclusion of the evidence presented by the department, evidence and statements or counterproposals bearing upon the reasonableness of the proposal may be introduced. Such evidence must be material to the issues before the secretary and shall be presented in an orderly manner. Any such evidence and statements or counterproposals shall receive reasonable consideration by the secretary before any proposal is adopted.