Public transportation's popularity has been affected by changing social and economic forces. In the beginning of the 20th Century, ridership grew steadily until the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1939, people took fewer work trips and often could not afford to take leisure trips. During World War II, public transportation was the dominant mode on the transportation landscape. Ridership peaked in 1946, when Americans took 23.4 billion trips on trains, buses and trolleys.
After World War II, ridership experienced a decline due to inexpensive fuel and government policies favoring low-density suburban development and the sprawl created by the new interstate highway system. By 1960, ridership dropped to 9.3 billion trips, and it continued to decline to a low of 6.5 billion trips in 1972. Beginning in 1973, ridership rose gradually to 9.4 billion trips in 2003. Reasons for the increase include a strong economy and improved customer service. Also, higher levels of public and private investment in public transportation resulted from 1991 federal legislation and succeeding funding bills.
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