Former N.J. Turnpike chief going to infrastructure firm

Former N.J. Turnpike chief going to infrastructure firm New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s plan for the New Jersey Turnpike isn’t going anywhere, but the Garden State’s former toll road chief is doing some privatization of his own.
   Michael Lapolla, former N.J. Turnpike executive director, has been hired to lead Global Via Infrastructure’s operations in the United States.
   Lapolla, 51, will direct activities in locations where public-private partnerships are being considered as a way to solve a growing transportation and infrastructure crisis.
   GVI is one of the world’s leading infrastructure groups that designs, builds, maintains and operates transportation projects. Formed in early 2007 as a joint venture between FCC, a construction and services group, and Caja Madrid, a leading Spanish financial institution, GVI has a portfolio of 40 projects across the globe, including toll roads, rail systems, marinas, industrial ports and airports.
   “Every day, state and local governments are faced with growing transportation needs yet dwindling budgets,” Lapolla said. “GVI’s unique structure offers public officials a workable transportation solution — opening a new dimension in public-private partnerships that encompasses every aspect of a project, from design to construction to operation. I look forward to harnessing that spirit of quality and value for our projects stateside to expand GVI’s presence throughout the United States.”