Given how many urban areas continue to expand, even the land next to tracks has become valuable. When it was farmland it was rarely an issue if there was a train parked at one location, or the noise or smoke from the engines. I thinks its dishonest of the areas that rezone a parcel to residential and don't make the developer include a set back for noise and safety. Why not? The politicians are a greedy for the property tax revenue as the developers are for the return on the lot and house.

If there's ever a serious derailment that takes out a few dozen houses the politicians will scream about how the greedy railroads don't care about the public safety, but in reality they'll be the ones who are just as responsible.