New light rail systems in Cork and Galway modelled on Dublin's Luas would be a priority for the Greens in government, the party said today.
Outlining its transport policy ahead of the general election, the party also proposed extending the hugely successful Luas system in the capital city.
The Greens want to divert cash being poured into new roads towards improving the Republic's public transport system.
"Last year we spent six times more of our capital budget on new roads than on public transport," said Eamon Ryan, Green Party transport spokesman.
"Our government and their economic advisors have got their cost-benefit analyses fundamentally wrong."
The party said they would also press for a rail link to Navan and scrap plans for the controversial M3 motorway being routed around the Hill of Tara.
"In Government we will redress the chronic under investment in bus, rail, cycling and pedestrian facilities and we will redirect the roads budget to improve road safety and traffic management," said Mr Ryan.
He accused the present coalition government of not taking account of social, environmental and planning advantages to a renewed emphasis on proper public transport. Nor did the government foresee the safety, pollution and social costs that come with reliance on cars and roads, he claimed.
The Greens plan to reallocate two billion euro from elements, including roads projects, in the government's Transport 21 plan for 56 km of new Luas lines. "While the emphasis is always on the big construction projects, it will be equally important for us to get our land-use planning right," said Mr Ryan.
"Rather than a Dublin Transportation Authority we want to see a national agency set up to work with new regional authorities and ensure that new housing and office projects are located in proximity to transport connections."
He added: "We will also ensure that bus services are given real priority and that traffic management systems are reformed so that the pedestrian, rather than the car, is king in our city centres."