CUNY celebrated the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s renaming of the 149 Street–Grand Concourse subway station to “149 Street-Hostos” station on Oct. 8, recognizing Hostos Community College’s impact on the South Bronx community.
The station is the first in the subway system named after a CUNY community college and the eighth to include the name of a CUNY institution. This renaming follows last October’s change to the 23rd Street station, now known as 23 Street-Baruch College. Other stops representing CUNY include 68 Street-Hunter College, 137 Street-City College and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College.
The renaming highlights Hostos Community College’s long standing role in providing educational opportunities in the South Bronx.
“Seeing the ‘149 St-Hostos’ name is a wonderful representation of the impact that Hostos Community College has as an anchor institution in the South Bronx, something that we hope every member of the Hostos family can take pride in,” CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said.
By adding the college’s name on subway signs, the MTA makes the institution more visible to commuters and visitors.
“Renaming this station 149 Street-Hostos is about more than changing a sign,” Assembly Member Amanda Septimo said. “It is about putting the history, pride and achievement of the South Bronx permanently on the map of New York City.”
The station also received accessibility upgrades, expanding access for riders with disabilities.
According to the MTA’s announcement, the improvements make the station fully accessible, marking the system’s 163rd accessible station.
MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said this is the eighth station made accessible this year, with 30 more under construction.
The project is part of broader efforts to improve accessibility across the system, making public transit easier to navigate.
149 Street-Hostos now has three elevators. One connects to the street, upper platform and lower mezzanine, while the other two provide connections to lower platforms.
“You’ll note that the elevator now makes the station accessible to all,” Hostos Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis said. “Accessibility is an important word at Hostos, and has been from the beginning.”
In addition to the accessibility upgrades, the MTA also installed two new staircases to improve traffic flow, a new fare control area and new station artwork.
For Hostos, the new station name is more than just a sign; it publicly recognizes the college as an important piece of the South Bronx.
Alongside the accessibility improvements, the station will now serve as a stronger connection to the institution and its commuters.
