[Symbiote]

That seems excessive (from a YouTube video).

In Britain, within towns there's usually gates on either side of the road, so it's not necessary for the train to use its horn.

https://youtu.be/uaWG04vKYLg

[closeparen]

Areas where every level crossing is this good can be designated as quiet zones, but few municipalities want to spend the money on that. Train tracks are usually in industrial/commercial areas; homes near them are, shall we say, not centers of political power.

[yibg]

I don’t know. I wouldn’t call downtown San Mateo and Burlingame either industrial zones or far away from political influence.

[yibg]

There are gates in San Mateo but they still blast their horns. I believe minimum of 96 decibels at 100 feet is required.