Transportation Started Private, Government Took Over After Crises

Virtually all components of U.S. transportation—roads, airports, even air traffic control—were initially started by the private sector, and government took them over following a recurring pattern: a private entity hit financial distress, government stepped in to assist or assume operations, and where it did not take over (railroads, airlines, trucks) it instead imposed economic regulation until the late-1970s deregulation.