Austin Joseph Tobin (May 25, 1903 – February 8, 1978) was an American businessman who served as the executive director of the Port of New York Authority, the precursor to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, from 1942 until 1972.[1]
Tobin joined the Port Authority in 1927, where he served the first 15 years of his career in the law department. He started out as a law clerk, and was promoted to assistant general counsel in 1935.[2] In 1942, he was appointed as executive director of the Port Authority.[2] During his thirty years as executive director, the agency gained control of LaGuardia Airport, Idlewild (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport), and Newark Airport. He oversaw the development of the original World Trade Center, the creation of the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.[3] When Mr. Tobin joined the agency as a law clerk it had 300 employees. When he retired as executive director in 1972, the agency had 8,000 employees and an investment of $2.6‐billion in bridges, airports, ship terminals and other facilities, including the vast World Trade Center.[4]
Austin J. Tobin Plaza in 1976
Austin J. Tobin Plaza in 1995
Tobin is noted for his difference of style from Robert Moses. Most particularly, for his relocation of bus terminal tenants.[5] Furthermore, Tobin is also noted for prioritizing mass transit more so than Robert Moses. Tobin and Moses worked together to help fund and build the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the Throgs Neck Bridge.[6]
