Increase of spare bus ratio

(a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, shall issue such regulations and guidance as are necessary to allow, upon request, a regional transportation planning organization to increase the spare bus ratio of such organization to 30 percent. (b) Eligibility for spare bus ratio increase To be eligible for an increase described under subsection (a), a regional transportation planning organization shall submit to the Administrator— (1) a certification that the region regularly experiences extreme weather events; (2) a description of how extreme weather events have disrupted bus operations in the region; and (3) a description of how increasing the spare ratio will help ensure reliable services for users of fixed bus routes during incidents of extreme weather.