WOODBRIDGE, ONTARIO — July 22, 2025 — Veteran infrastructure executive Jose Espinosa has been named the new president and CEO of Ontario’s 407 ETR, the firm announced in a statement this week. Espinosa brings more than 25 years of international experience in tolling and highway infrastructure across North America, Europe, and Australia, making him well positioned to steer the privately operated toll road into its next chapter.

Espinosa officially succeeded Javier Tamargo on July 16, taking over leadership of the Express Toll Route that spans more than 108 kilometers across the Greater Toronto Area — one of North America’s busiest and most advanced toll highways. Tamargo, who held the top post at 407 ETR since September 2020, is now CEO of Cintra US, the Texas-based highway firm and subsidiary of global infrastructure giant Ferrovial.

Espinosa is no stranger to 407 ETR: Between 2009 and 2016, he held multiple key roles at the company, serving as corporate shareholder liaison, reporting manager, and later project director for the Highway 407 ETR East operations.

In his most recent role, Espinosa served as CEO of three major highways in North Texas — the Lyndon B. Johnson Expressway, the North Tarrant Express, and the North Tarrant Express 35W — where he oversaw complex capacity expansions and connectivity upgrades on some of the Dallas-Fort Worth region’s most congested roadways. Before that, Espinosa led operations at I-77 Mobility Partners in Charlotte, North Carolina, managing a crucial corridor for commuters in the fast-growing region.

Espinosa’s career started at Ferrovial, one of the world’s largest infrastructure and toll road operators, where he joined in 2000 as an analyst in the corporate treasury department. He went on to hold a series of management roles with Ferrovial’s Madrid-based toll road subsidiary Cintra, building a reputation for delivering large-scale infrastructure projects on time and on budget.

“Mr. Espinosa comes with a proven track record in complex infrastructure management and is well positioned to lead 407 ETR through its next phase of growth and operational excellence. His global experience will be instrumental as we continue to drive innovation, enhance the customer experience, and deliver long-term value to our stakeholders,” said David McFadden, Chair of the 407 International Board, in the release.

As CEO, Espinosa will also sit on the 407 ETR board of directors, helping shape strategic direction at a time when the region’s growing population and evolving mobility needs are putting new demands on toll operators to innovate.

The 407 ETR is recognized as one of North America’s most advanced electronic toll roads, serving hundreds of thousands of drivers daily with all-electronic tolling, dynamic pricing, and a reputation for consistent travel times. The highway has become a model for how privately operated toll routes can complement public transportation networks, reduce congestion, and support economic development in major metro areas.

With Espinosa at the helm, industry watchers expect the company to focus on further enhancing the customer experience through technology upgrades, new payment solutions, sustainability initiatives, and continued collaboration with government and municipal partners to keep traffic moving efficiently across the corridor.

The leadership transition also comes as private toll operators navigate a rapidly shifting transportation landscape — balancing aging infrastructure, changing commuter patterns, new mobility technology, and climate policy goals.

For Espinosa, the move marks both a return to familiar ground and a fresh mandate to guide the 407 ETR through its next evolution as a key piece of Ontario’s highway network.

Originally reported by Julie Strupp in Construction Dive.