Affordable transit passes are coming to more Alberta communities as on September 26th, the province announced a $1.7 million investment to expand the program further.

In February, the government invested up to $15 million to bolster affordable transit pass programs in Calgary and Edmonton, as well as in Airdrie, Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Cold Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, St. Albert, and Strathcona County (Sherwood Park).

According to the Government of Alberta, a total of 390,000 Albertans used the pass to move around their communities last year.

With the most recent announcement, Camrose, Hinton, Leduc, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Spruce Grove will be hopping on board this new affordable transit pass system.

Jason Nixon, minister of seniors, community and social services, spoke at a press conference about the investment, saying that the purpose of it is "to serve more Albertans and support those living in smaller communities outside of Edmonton and Calgary."

"With the inflation crisis making it more expensive to drive, it is critical we ensure that everyone that uses public transportation, especially the most vulnerable in our province, can get from point A to point B easily and affordably," Nixon added.

MLA Jacky Lovely of Camrose talked about how much of an issue affordability is in her riding, saying that "seniors are concerned, students are concerned, families are concerned, and business owners are concerned. I think this is one more step to making life affordable to all Albertans."

Listen to the full CFWE audio with Jason Nixon and Jacky Lovely below: