The Grand Canal docks area extends over 38.2 hectares with a double water frontage on the Liffey and the impressive canal basin. There is the capacity for the development of circa 3,500 apartments and circa 400,000 sqm of commercial property for an exciting mixed-use environment. There is a strong focus too on cultural, social and leisure amenities. The dock offers considerable potential for moorings and varied water sport facilities as well as an ideal setting for waterfront restaurants, bars and shops. The authority is developing high quality public realm along the river and canal banks.
The Dublin docklands area is well serviced by a network of public transport facilities. These include inter-city train and fast commuter train, Dublin Area Rapid Transit, (DART) services together with extensive bus routes. One of the capital's two mainline stations is located within the docklands area at Connolly Station and direct bus services link the docklands with Heuston station, on the Liffey, opposite Phoenix Park. Convenient communications to and from Dublin airport are provided by the airportlink coach service. The docklands will also be serviced by Dublins new commuter light rail system (LUAS) which started service in June 2004.
A road tunnel is currently being built to link the M1/M50 motorway directly with Dublin port and the north docklands. In addition to reducing the amount of port traffic passing through the city centre this will also provide an additional high speed link between the docklands, the national road network and Dublin airport.
The Irish government is moving towards a new metro train project to provide underground rail service in the city which will interconnect with surface DART and Inter-city rail services in docklands.