Plans to extend the Luas line from Connolly Station to the Point Depot moved a step close today after an application was lodged for the 1.5 km extension.
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said this morning he had received an application for a Railway
The extension is one of four put forward since Transport 21 was published.
Order, making it the fourth application for a Luas extension since the launch of "Transport 21" in October.
Mr Cullen said the extension of the Luas Red Line to the Point would mean one million fewer car journeys along the route each year. The line would carry almost two million passengers, he said.
The line through the Docklands would serve serving existing and planned high-density commercial and residential developments, with a 50 per cent growth in employment and 100 per cent growth in the population in the area anticiapted.
The target completion date for the project is 2008, around the same time the Luas Cross City Link is due for completion allowing Luas passengers from the Green line to access the area.
With other improvements to the Irish Rail system such as the new station in the Docklands, the area will now have rail or light rail access from Maynooth, Drogheda and along the DART line.
"The extension of Luas to the Point Depot is a true example of connecting communities and promoting prosperity," Mr Cullen said. "In the longer term, the completion of the interconnector will further improve the quality and quantity of public transport services in the Docklands, allowing direct access from the Kildare line and Heuston Station."
The next step in the process involves the appointment of an independent inspector to conduct a public inquiry.
Last week, the public consultation process for five proposals for the city centre connection of the Red line from Tallaght and Green line from Sandyford was announced.