Alberta government has asked schools to submit applications for new funding by October 31, to overcome the transportation problem of students in province.

A new initiative by the UCP government will allow school boards to purchase buses and extend transportation services to more Alberta students.

$20 million in funding is now available to school boards that manage their own student transportation fleets.

These funds are expected to support the purchase of up to 115 new buses.

“Alberta’s conservative government is taking real and practical steps to help more students find transportation," Alberta Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said.

"By advancing these funds, several school divisions will be able to purchase more buses sooner and help get more kids to school. This will help increase the number of kids taking school buses, reduce ride times and save Alberta families money.”

According to the UCP government, these changes will mean an additional 80,000 students will become eligible for school transportation services. Of these students, 47,000 who currently pay transportation fees will become eligible for provincial coverage.