I can't wait to see it when it's completed. I hope plenty of pictures are taken during the project.
Just a little side note: Before the line was electrified, Deer Park and Brentwood were single tracked. When they electrified the branch they added a second track from where JS is now to Brentwood.
It's also going to be interesting with Wyandanch and Pinelawn, because not only will they add a second platform and second track, they will have to reconfigure the Straight Path, 18th St., and Wellwood Ave. grade crossings. They will probably tear down the pedestrian bridge E of Wyandanch and move it to the center part of the station.
I think it's a good idea that Phase I is from KO to CI because it's a four-mile stretch, it goes through Connectquot State Park, it's surrounded by trees, and of course it's the termination point. Could you imagine if a train had equipment trouble in that stretch, it would be a nightmare, or even a grade crossing incident at the Pond Ave and Ocean Ave crossings.
This project is the greatest thing to happen to the LIRR (Aside from ESA, KO Electrification, Double Track from Syosset to Huntington) since they eliminated the Herricks Road grade crossing in Mineola, or the complete grade-separation/elevation of the Babylon Branch.
This is the train to (NYC). Stopping at: Babylon, Lindenhurst, Copiague, Amityville, Massapequa Park, Massapequa, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport, Baldwin, Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Valley Stream, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, Woodside, Penn Station OR Grand Central.