Jose Maria Lopez well regarded by people at Cintra (PERSONNEL)

There's a rumor been circulating that Jose Maria Lopez was "pushed out" at Cintra US and that was the reason for the quiet departure - no announcement. We thought maybe he was disillusioned with the political turn against concessions in Texas.

Lopez was the leading figure in the international toll concession business in North America for over a decade having been deeply involved in 407ETR in Toronto, the takeover of the Chicago Skyway and Indiana Toll Road and a bunch of projects for new tollroads in Texas. He was a central player in the battle over TX121, now Sam Rayburn Tollway developed by NTTA, after being taken away from Cintra.

Lopez himself told us simply he wanted to work quietly in his new job at OHL Concesiones in Spain, and so didn't want announcements.  Neither his departure from Cintra nor his job at OHL Concesiones were announced.

"I did not know that I was so relevant," he told me.

Meanwhile at Cintra they say they hold him in high regard.

Patrick Rhode VP Corporate Affairs at Cintra US wrote this statement for us after our report and rumors:

"Jose Maria Lopez is well regarded by our company, having worked for Cintra in various capacities.  He most recently served as Cintra's World Technical Director from our international headquarters in Madrid, Spain, a position he assumed in 2009 after serving as President of Cintra US from our U.S. headquarters in Austin Texas.

“We continue to wish him success in the new endeavor he has embarked upon.

“At Cintra US, we are proud of our collective efforts in the United States and certainly in Texas, where we are working with our state and local partners to provide congestion relieving safe and reliable transportation solutions for motorists we are honored to serve.

"Last year was highly successful for our partners and team in Texas.  We were awarded and achieved commercial close of the North Tarrant Express and LBJ Express projects.  In 2009, the North Tarrant Express became the first United States P3 of its kind to achieve financial close in approximately two years.  

"In addition, the right-of-way acquisition process for our SH 130 project in Central Texas continues well ahead of schedule, which will allow for earlier construction of Segments 4 and 5 of this vital expressway around Austin. 

“These projects not only mean the creation of new and improved roadways that will help eliminate a carbon footprint often associated with stagnant traffic, these projects mean thousands of jobs for local economies right here in Texas.

"We look forward to continued successful work together with all of our state and local partners this year and in the future." end quotes

our earlier report:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/4628

TOLLROADSnews 2010-03-08