City to get transport upgrade.

The governments recently announced Transport 21 initiative, which aims to modernize road and rail transport across the whole of Ireland, should also make life easier for Dublin commuters as a large slice of the 34 billion budget will be spent on developments in the city area. Two metro lines are planned: Metro West, linking Tallaght and Ballymun, which will be built in four phases and is scheduled for completion in 2014; and Metro North, which is to run between St Stephen's Green and Swords, via DCU and the airport, and should be ready by 2012. Metro North will connect with Metro West at Ballymun. Another train line will link Heuston Station and Docklands via St Stephen's Green. The existing Luas network will be extended to Citywest, Bray, Docklands and Liffey Junction, while a new Luas line will connect Lucan to the city centre lines. Upgrades and renovation are also planned for commuter rail transport, including the reopening of the old Navan line. A new Dublin Transport Authority will be instituted to co-ordinate the various agencies managing Dublin transport.