Division A (IRT) Platforms 2 side platforms Borough Manhattan Tracks 2 | Structure Underground Opened 17 July 1918 Locale Upper East Side | |
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Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line Services 4 (late nights)
6 (all times) <6> (weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction) Transit connections NYCT Bus: M66, M98, M101, M102, M103 Address New York, NY 10021, United States Similar Lexington Avenue–63rd Street, Lexington Avenue/59th Street, 77th Street, 28th Street, 33rd Street | ||
68th Street–Hunter College is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 68th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It is served by the 6 train at all times, the <6> during weekdays in peak direction, and the 4 during late night hours.
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Station layout
This underground station opened on July 17, 1918, has two local tracks and two side platforms. The express tracks of the Lexington Avenue Line, used by the 4 and 5 trains during daytime hours, pass beneath the station and are not visible from the platforms.
Both platforms have their original mosaic trim line with "68" tablets on it at regular intervals and name tablets reading "68th STREET-HUNTER COLLEGE" in two lines. On small sections of the platforms on either ends, where they were extended in the 1950s, there are blue trim lines with "68TH ST" written on it in white lettering. Blue columns run along both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black station name plate in white lettering. Both platforms have emergency exits from the lower level express tracks.
Toward the south end of the platforms are two stairs leading to the only mezzanine in the station. It has been renovated with stainless steel fare control rails and features red accent stripes in the IND style. Old wall lights exist but are not functional. The waiting area inside fare control has windows that allow a full view of the platforms and tracks. The northern half of the station without the mezzanine has very high ceilings.
In 1981, the MTA listed the station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.
Exits
Outside of the large turnstile bank that provides access to and from the station, there is a token booth and a passageway on each side separated from the waiting area by a steel fence. Each passageway leads to a small staircase going up to either northern corner of 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. On the east side of the mezzanine is a short staircase going up to a landing, where a larger staircase goes up to the southeast corner of 68th Street and Lexington Avenue underneath below Hunter College's East Building. The west side of the mezzanine has a direct entrance to the West Building of Hunter College and a double-wide marble staircase going up to the plaza on the southwest corner of 68th Street and Lexington Avenue.
A proposal for an elevator for the station in 2011 was delayed by local opposition, as such an elevator would be claimed to ruin the neighborhood's character.