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To require the Secretary of Transportation, to issue regulations and guidance to allow certain regional transportation planning organizations to increase spare bus ratios to 30 percent, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations allowing regional transportation planning organizations in areas experiencing extreme weather to increase their spare bus ratio to 30 percent. Regional transit agencies may request this increase by certifying that their region regularly experiences extreme weather events, documenting how those events have disrupted bus operations, and explaining how additional spare buses would help maintain reliable service during weather disruptions. The bill addresses operational challenges faced by transit agencies that need backup buses available for maintenance and repairs when extreme heat or cold events increase vehicle damage and service demands.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV)
Actions (3)
- Sep 9, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. · house
- Sep 8, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Sep 8, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2025
Ms. Titus introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation, to issue regulations and guidance to allow certain regional transportation planning organizations to increase spare bus ratios to 30 percent, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Bus Utilization for Fleet Flexibility and Emergency Resilience Act” or the “BUFFER Act”.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Extreme weather events such as extreme heat and extreme cold threaten the lives and livelihoods of communities across the United States.
(2) Instances of extreme weather can increase vehicle repair and maintenance needs for transit buses.
(3) Operational disruptions to fixed bus routes during extreme weather events are dangerous to people who rely on bus services to get around.
(4) Transit agencies with high-frequency and high-intensity service, including regions that are tourism and live entertainment hubs, face additional operational challenges.
SEC. 3. 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. <all>
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