Transportation Authority proposed closing 177 part-time token booths, later reduced to 62, across the subway system and replace them with MetroCard Vending Machines and High-Entry/Exit Turnstiles to help cut the MTA's $1 billion deficit. The closure of booths began in August 2003. The station's part-time token booth at 144th Street was closed on August 17, 2003, and automatic entrance to the 144th Street exits was provided at all times. Station layout This underground station has four tracks and two side platforms. The two center express tracks are used by the limited rush hour service to Jamaica–179th Street. Some of the black columns separating the local and express tracks have white signs reading "Sutphin" in black lettering. Both platforms have a yellow trim line with a black border and mosaic name tablets reading "SUTPHIN BLVD." in white sans-serif lettering on a black background and yellow border. Small "SUTPHIN" and directional tile captions run below the trim line and name tablets. Blue I-beam columns run along both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black station name plate in white lettering. At the northern end of the station, there are a few wider columns that are tiled. This station has a full length mezzanine above the platforms and tracks supported by blue I-beam columns, and allows for free crossovers between directions. Exits The main fare control area, formerly the station's full-time entrance, is at the east (railroad north) end. It has a turnstile bank, full-time token booth, and three street stairs; , the turnstile bank consisted of five regular turnstiles, a High Entry-Exit Turnstile, and a high exit-only turnstile. Two stairs ascend to either southern corner of the T-intersection of Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue, and the other to the northwest corner of 148th Street and Hillside Avenue. On the opposite side of the full-time turnstile bank, there was an unstaffed fare control area that has a single staircase going down to each platform and is now gated off. The staircase to the Manhattan-bound platform is closed (directional mosaic signs still exist), but the one to the 179th Street-bound platform remains open and has an exit-only turnstile. The other fare control area at the station's west end is unstaffed, containing just full-height turnstiles; in 2007, this fare control area contained two High Entry-Exit Turnstiles and two high exit-only turnstiles. There are two street stairs going up to the southwest