service and parking at Littleton/Route 495, additional parking at Ayer, and the opening of Wachusett should help to mitigate the demand for parking at South Acton. On June 11, 2012, the MBTA opened bids for the $9.622 million construction project. Construction preparation began in September 2012. During the periods where the 1980s-built station platform was closed, temporary platforms east of the station (at the former station site) and west of the station were used to board passengers. These platforms were installed in October and November 2012; ceremonial groundbreaking was held in December. The station site was prepared during the winter of 2012-2013, and work on the high-level inbound platform began in April 2013. Foundations for the inbound platform and the pedestrian bridge were laid in 2013. The subcontractor for the steel bridge structure was replaced due to compliance issues in 2013, delaying plans to have the project open by early 2015. The inbound platform was constructed in mid-2014, followed by the outbound platform in November 2014. The new station was largely complete by the end of November 2015 and opened on December 19, 2015. On January 30, 2016, the MBTA held an opening ceremony with local and state officials. Service Until 2014, South Acton was the only station other than Porter and North Station served by all Fitchburg Line trains, for a total of about 16 daily round trips. About one-third of these trips terminated at South Acton, while the others continued to Fitchburg. All short turn trains were extended to Littleton/Route 495 station on August 4, 2014. However, as a high-ridership station, South Acton is still served by all trains. Ridership South Acton averaged 991 weekday boardings in 2013, making it the most heavily used inbound station on the Fitchburg Line. It is the sole train station in Acton, a town with over 20,000 residents. The station also serves commuters from Route 2, which is to the north. The western expressway portion of Route 2 terminates in Acton, making South Acton convenient for many riders. Ridership is also high due to the high number of trains that serve the station. Some commuters will drive inbound to South Acton from areas further outbound on the line in order to have a larger selection of trains. However, with more trains running to Littleton/Route 495 station and increased parking planned there, more commuters may drive there instead due to its closer proximity