MBTA Transit

Query real-time MBTA predictions via the v3 API.

Setup

```bash

Optional but recommended for higher rate limits

export MBTA_API_KEY=your_key_here # Free at https://api-v3.mbta.com/portal

Install dependencies

pip install requests pyyaml flask # flask only needed for dashboard

```

Quick Commands

```bash

cd skills/mbta

Next departures from a stop

python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl # Alewife

python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-harsq --route Red # Harvard, Red Line only

Search for stop IDs

python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Porter"

python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Kendall"

List routes

python scripts/mbta.py routes # All routes

python scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail # Subway only

python scripts/mbta.py routes --type bus # Buses

Service alerts

python scripts/mbta.py alerts # All alerts

python scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Red # Red Line alerts

All configured departures (uses config.yaml)

python scripts/mbta.py departures --config config.yaml

Start web dashboard

python scripts/mbta.py dashboard --config config.yaml --port 6639

```

Configuration

Edit `config.yaml` to set up your stops:

```yaml

panels:

- title: "My Station"

walk_minutes: 5 # Filter out trains you can't catch

services:

- label: "Red Line"

destination: "to Alewife"

route_id: "Red"

stop_id: "place-harsq"

direction_id: 0 # 0 or 1 for direction

limit: 3

```

Key fields:

Finding Stop/Route IDs

```bash

Search stops

python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Davis"

Returns: place-davis: Davis

Get routes

python scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail

Returns route IDs like "Red", "Orange", "Green-E"

```

JSON Output

Add `--json` for machine-readable output:

```bash

python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl --json

python scripts/mbta.py departures --config config.yaml --json

```

Common Stop IDs

| Station | Stop ID |

|---------|---------|

| Alewife | place-alfcl |

| Harvard | place-harsq |

| Kendall/MIT | place-knncl |

| Park Street | place-pktrm |

| South Station | place-sstat |

| North Station | place-north |

| Back Bay | place-bbsta |

| Downtown Crossing | place-dwnxg |

Answering User Questions

**"When's the next Red Line train?"**

```bash

python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl --route Red

```

**"Should I leave now to catch the T?"**

Check departures against their walk time. If next train is ≤ walk_minutes, say "leave now!"

**"Are there any delays on the Orange Line?"**

```bash

python scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Orange

```

**"What buses go to Harvard?"**

```bash

python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Harvard"

Then check routes at that stop

python scripts/mbta.py next --stop <stop_id>

```