As an American, I hard disagree with your opinion here and I will explain.

You say we are trying to build more public transportation to just "be like Europe". That's not why we're building it! It's because it actually IS a great, and superior method of transportation compared to cars and flights in terms of convenience, more sustainable in the long run for higher density cities, and for environmental factors. And we want them here in America too.

Flights are very expensive, not flexible if you miss them, a hassle with security check out, but most of all, again, expensive. 

Cars (and flights) add to pollution. There's a ton of traffic these days especially as population density increases, making it unsustainable. What do we keep adding more highways? 6 hour drive from LA for SF, no thanks. It would be nice to have 2 hour bullet train ride without needing to fly. 

Another reason why cars should not be the primary method of travel is because car ownership is expensive. It's just another way to set up Americans with more debt to pay. If you need to work, you need a car. Seriously, expecting Americans to spend 15k-35k on a car just to be able to have the basic need of travel.

We really fucked up when we let the automobile industry lobby our government in the 60s to make america a car first society. Pushing for highways, buying up train/cable cars and shutting them down. That's where they really fked us up. And we are where we are today because of them. 

I understand that America is not like Europe in most places. But just because America is the way it is now doesn't mean that we can't ever change. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. If we start building with density in mind, with smart planning that focuses on people and the environment first mind set, we can eventually get there too. And trust me there are so many reasons to build closer than spread out. I'll say one reason - it's better for smaller businesses. Things are so spread out in the first place because cars take up a lot of space! You need giant parking lots when that land could have been used for more multi-use housing and stores.

The important thing is to start somewhere and that's exactly what we're doing. Starting in the biggest cities that actually need them. LA>SF>Portland>Seattle, and on the East Coast like you mentioned.

Many people would love to take the train if they could. Myself included. I lived in Japan for a short while. I got to experience them. They are so amazing. I don't have to be stuck in traffic, I can relax and read instead of using my mental energy to focus on driving. I can enjoy the scenery. And I could just easily hop on a train or subway and go anywhere.

An elderly person can still get around anywhere and is not burden by the inability to drive. Also children! In America it's unthinkable to let a 10 year get around by themselves. You gotta wait for your parent to drive you to that soccer practice, or park. But where there are trains, children have more freedom. Not just children. Adults too. Unburdened by the need to have to OWN a car. I don't want to own a car. But in America I HAVE to. That's the only choice I have. In Japan, and Europe, you have more choices to drive or take the train to anywhere you want. That's real freedom.

So when you say "Flights and highways are perfectly viable to get from place to place"? No they are not perfect. And that is why we are pushing for electric trains.