Some of the more interesting things in today's announcement about the R211 contracts were the renderings of the station redesigns Cuomo has proposed. Ironically, they look a lot like the 1970s and 1980s-era renovations, only with newer technology. The first stations to be renovated are all 
line 4th Ave stations: Prospect, 53rd, and Bay Ridge Ave. All of these were redone in the 1970s with 'refrigerator tile' walls that covered up the elegant tiles underneath, and there's not evidence that Cuomo plans to remove those ugly tiles (as has been seen along Manhattan stations that have been renovated, which are nearly every station except Rector and 49th. Also amusing are the entrance kiosks, which also look familiar.
Outdoor kiosks:
(MTA rendering)
Late 1980s/early 1990s renovation of 179th St, F line (Brian Weinberg photo). Nearly everything has been tried before, including backlit signs (another 1980s failure, mostly covered up around the system but still seen at the Church Ave 
and some other stations).
Inside, the old tiles remain, only presumably under brighter lights:
1970s renovation with same color insert tiles (Jeremiah Cox photo)
The scariest thing is, 53rd St. probably looked that bright when it was first renovated, before decades of steel dust set in!
It's a total break from tradition to not restore the elegant mosaics (103rd St. on the 
is the most recent time that has happened) and white tiles, and the new designs seem a little dated. I'm glad to see a tiny bit of effort put into the MTA, but wifi in stations is lipstick on a pig before Cuomo actually contributes to the Capital Fund and restores the lockbox. We need real investment, not window dressing.