This underground station has two local tracks and two
side platforms. Two express tracks, used by the A train during daytime hours, run below the station and are not visible from the platforms. To the north, the upper level local tracks become the center tracks of
168th Street, allowing C trains to terminate there, while the lower level express tracks become the outer tracks, continuing towards
207th Street. Both platforms have mosaic name tablets reading "163RD STREET - AMSTERDAM AVE." in white
sans-serif lettering broken onto two lines. The background is yellow with a black border. Small black "163" and directional signs in white lettering run at regular intervals, but there is no trim line on either platform. Grey (previously yellow)
I-beam columns run along both platforms, alternating ones having the standard black station name plate with white lettering. The trim line was part of a color-coded
tile system used throughout the IND. The tile colors were designed to facilitate navigation for travelers going away from
Lower Manhattan. As such, the yellow tiles used at the 163rd Street station were originally also used at , the next express station to the south, while a different tile color is used at , the next express station to the north. Yellow tiles are similarly used at the
155th Street station, the only other local station between 145th Street and 168th Street. This station has a full-length
mezzanine supported by I-beam columns above the platforms, but only the southern half is opened. The open southern half has three staircases from each platform, black I-beams, and two sets of
turnstile banks leading to the center or the extreme south end of the mezzanine. The closed northern half is walled off and retained the original yellow-colored I-beams. The staircases from the platforms to this portion have been removed. Prior to the station's renovation, the open southern half was split into three sections by two black steel fences, and free transfers between directions were not possible. Outside fare control, there is a token booth. The closed northern half was gated off and had an exit-only turnstile leading to the
fare control area at the center, and three gated staircases from each platform. The 2018 artwork at this station is
Ciguapa Antellana, me llamo sueño de la madrugada. (who more sci-fi than us), a glass
mosaic by
Firelei Báez. The artwork consists of four pieces, two on the mezzanine and one on each platform. The mosaic contains leaves and vines, as well as symbolism that is evocative of Baez's Caribbean ancestry.
Exits Despite the station's name, there is no longer an open exit to 163rd Street. The closed northern half had three exits leading to 163rd Street. By the late 1980s, the exits were closed and eventually sealed. Two of the exits went to the southwest corner, The open southern half of the mezzanine has three exits: • One stair at the southeast corner of 161st Street and Amsterdam Avenue. • One stair at the northeast corner of 161st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. • One stair built inside 1033 Saint Nicholas Avenue (at the western corner of 162nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue) == References ==