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Last weekend, New Jersey Transit announced that new work on its Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) tunnel project would be suspended for 30 days, according to a report published Sept. 14 on the NJToday.net news website.

The delay would not affect ongoing work, but is intended to allow officials to re-examine the project’s budget. Concerns have been raised that the nine-mile, $8.7 billion commuter-rail link connecting New York and New Jersey could be up to $1 billion over budget, according to the news report.

The delay could provide time to combine the project with rail expansion efforts by other transportation agencies, the report said.

Amtrak, for one, hopes the project continues to advance.

“Amtrak supports the ARC Tunnel because it will create additional commuter-rail capacity for New Jersey Transit and Amtrak growth along the Northeast Corridor," Amtrak officials said in a prepared statement in response to the announcement. "Simply put, more tunnels under the Hudson River must be built if additional commuter trains are to serve New York City.”

The project includes two new tunnels under the Hudson River, new tracks between Secaucus Junction and New York's Penn Station, and a new rail station beneath 34th Street in Manhattan. The project will enable NJ Transit to double rail service into Manhattan, free up capacity for Amtrak, and reduce travel times and crowding on trains at Penn Station.