149th Street–Grand Concourse station is an express station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line that has three tracks and two island platforms, with the center track used during rush hours in the peak direction. This station is on the upper level of the two-level station complex, with a free transfer to the IRT White Plains Road Line on the lower level. The station was opened on June 2, 1917, and was the southern terminus of the Jerome Avenue Line until it was extended through Mott Haven Avenue into the Upper East Side extension of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. IRT White Plains Road Line platforms The 149th Street–Grand Concourse station on the IRT White Plains Road Line has two tracks and two side platforms. The station is built at a deep level and contains arched ceilings, similar in design to those of 168th Street and 181st Street stations on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. As a result, it was initially only accessible by elevators. Unlike at other stations on the original IRT, there was an overpass connecting the two platforms. Originally opened as the Mott Avenue station on July 10, 1905, 149th Street–Grand Concourse was the first subway station to be opened in the Bronx. The original headhouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, all of the original mosaic "Mott Avenue" name tablets have been covered over with metal "149 St–Grand Concourse" signs. Only one name tablet, located on the downtown platform between the last two staircases at the northern end, remained uncovered and survived intact until a few years into the 21st century when a serious water leak after very heavy rainfall caused individual tiles to separate from the wall and fall off. There were no known plans by the MTA to repair or restore this name tablet. In late 2011, the MTA covered this name tablet with a metal "149 St–Grand Concourse" sign. Until 2002, there were no columns between the northbound and southbound tracks; thin supports for a communications conduit have since been installed. South of the station, there are track connections to the IRT Jerome Avenue Line. The line splits and makes a sharp turn to merge with the Jerome Avenue Line just south of the upper level station. Due to high usage levels and the sharp turn of the connection, it often causes delays on the 5 train. The White Plains