The transit industry had to build and amortize their investments in track and powerhouses, pay for all maintenance of right-of-way and equipment as well as property taxes on their lands and lines plus franchise fees. Often the franchises had been established during the boom years of the late 19th century as a percentage of fares collected and those deals were coming back to haunt the industry in the Depression. Transit operators were largely successful in pushing government to regulate the Jitney industry. The transit operators were already well equipped to operate in a government regulated environment and quickly realized the economic advantages of having the government build and maintain roads by adding bus fleets of their own. Bus substitution also allowed for a smoother path towards abandoning marginal trolley lines. “We are not abandoning lines,” said the transit operators, “we are upgrading service to the latest motor