# LA Metro MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > LA Metro lets you put the city's entire public transit network into your AI's hands. You can track live bus and rail positions, get second-by-second arrival predictions, plan complex rail-to-rail transfers, and stay on top of service alerts without leaving your chat window. It turns your agent into a real-time transit expert for Los Angeles. ## Overview - **Category:** government-public-data - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_oTMudc6ICiij72rZonlFdNNwpKpTrAzovQA00bYT/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** public-transit, real-time-data, bus-tracking, rail-schedules, urban-mobility, api-integration ## Description Imagine you're trying to navigate the Los Angeles transit system while juggling a busy day. Instead of constantly refreshing a website or squinting at a map to see if the next train is actually coming, you just ask your agent. This Connector connects your AI directly to the LA Metro data platform, giving it the eyes and ears it needs to see the city's movement. You can ask where a specific bus is right now, how long it'll take to get from North Hollywood to Santa Monica by rail, or if there are any major delays on the Red Line. It handles the heavy lifting of parsing complex schedules and live GPS feeds so you don't have to. Whether you're a local trying to beat the rush or a developer looking to pull accurate data for a mobility project, this setup makes the city's transit network feel like a personal concierge. It’s a core part of the Vinkius catalog, designed to turn raw transit data into actionable travel plans in seconds. You get a clear picture of what's happening on the ground, allowing you to make better decisions about how to get from A to B without the usual friction of manual searching. ## Tools ### get_bus_locations Get real-time GPS coordinates and heading for all active buses or specific routes. ### get_bus_routes List all Metrobus routes, including local, rapid, and express service types. ### get_bus_schedule Retrieve full run patterns and stop sequences for a specific bus route. ### get_bus_stops List all bus stops with coordinates and service messages for the whole system or a specific route. ### get_bus_vehicles Get real-time locations and predictability indicators for active Metrobus vehicles. ### get_rail_arrivals See predicted arrival times and destination info for trains at a specific rail station. ### get_rail_vehicle_positions Track the real-time GPS coordinates and heading of all Metro Rail trains. ### get_rail_routes List all Metro Rail lines with colors, station counts, and operational metadata. ### get_rail_stations Get station names, coordinates, line affiliations, and accessibility info for all rail stops. ### get_rail_to_rail Generate step-by-step rail journeys between two stations including transfer instructions. ### get_service_alerts Fetch current descriptions and severity levels for all active Metro rail and bus disruptions. ### get_stop_predictions Get next bus arrival predictions in minutes and seconds for a specific stop. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Is the Red Line running okay right now? ``` **Response:** ``` Checking current service alerts... The Red Line is currently operating normally with no active disruptions or major delays reported. ``` **Prompt:** ``` How do I get from Santa Monica to Downtown LA by train? ``` **Response:** ``` **Recommended Rail Route:** 1. **E Line (Expo)** from Santa Monica to 7th Street/Metro Center (approx. 32 mins) 2. **Transfer** at 7th Street/Metro Center 3. **B Line (Red)** to Union Station (approx. 26 mins) *Total travel time: ~58 minutes plus transfer.* ``` **Prompt:** ``` Where is the next bus for the 720 Rapid at the Civic Center stop? ``` **Response:** ``` The next 720 Rapid bus is expected at the Civic Center stop in **4 minutes**. It is currently 0.5 miles away and moving toward your location. ``` ## Capabilities ### Track live bus positions See exactly where every active bus is on its route in real-time. ### Predict rail arrivals Get precise countdowns for the next train at any specific station. ### Plan rail transfers Generate step-by-step directions for moving between different rail lines. ### Monitor service alerts Stay updated on maintenance, incidents, and weather-related delays. ### Browse bus routes Explore every local, rapid, and express route across LA County. ### View station details Get coordinates, accessibility info, and station orders for all rail stops. ### Check bus schedules Pull full run patterns and stop sequences for any specific bus route. ## Use Cases ### Avoiding a late bus A commuter asks if the 720 Rapid is running on time and the agent checks get_bus_locations to see the bus is stuck in traffic. ### Planning a day trip A tourist wants to get from North Hollywood to Santa Monica and the agent uses get_rail_to_rail to map the best rail-only route. ### Checking for rail issues A rider asks if there are any delays on the Red Line and the agent uses get_service_alerts to report a maintenance closure. ### Researching transit patterns An analyst asks for all bus stops on a specific route to map out service coverage using get_bus_stops. ## Benefits - Real-time awareness: Use get_bus_locations and get_rail_vehicle_positions to see exactly where transit is moving right now. - Accurate trip planning: Plan complex multi-line journeys using get_rail_to-rail to get precise transfer instructions. - Proactive delay management: Stay ahead of issues by checking get_service_alerts before you leave your house. - Precise arrival times: Stop guessing with get_stop_predictions and get_rail_arrivals for second-by-second countdowns. - Easy route discovery: Quickly find the right transit lines and stops using get_bus_routes and get_rail_stations. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get a real-time transit analyst that answers any LA Metro question instantly. 1. Subscribe to the LA Metro MCP on Vinkius. 2. Provide your LA Metro API key in your AI client's configuration. 3. Ask your agent to find a bus, plan a trip, or check for rail delays. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can the LA Metro MCP track buses in real-time?** Yes, it provides live GPS locations for all active buses, including their heading and predictability indicators. **How do I use the LA Metro MCP to plan a trip?** You can ask your agent to plan a rail-to-rail journey between any two stations to get step-by-step directions and transfer info. **Does the LA Metro MCP show service alerts?** Yes, it monitors all rail and bus disruptions, including maintenance, incidents, and weather-related alerts. **Can I use the LA Metro MCP to see train arrivals?** Yes, it provides minute-by-minute predictions for trains at specific stations, including line colors and destinations. **Is the LA Metro MCP good for tourists?** It is excellent for tourists because it can discover rail stations and plan rail-only journeys across the city. **Can the LA Metro MCP show me all bus routes?** Yes, it can list every local, rapid, and express bus route in the LA Metro system to help you find the right line. **How does the LA Metro MCP handle rail-to-rail transfers?** It identifies the best transfer stations, estimated travel times, and the specific sequence of lines you need to take. **Can my AI check when the next Metrobus is arriving at a specific stop in LA?** Yes! First use `get_bus_stops` with a route_id to find the stop ID for your location. Then use `get_stop_predictions` with that stop ID to get real-time arrival predictions in minutes and seconds, including route numbers, direction, and whether the bus is departing soon. This gives you live predictions based on actual vehicle GPS positions and schedule adherence. **How do I plan a Metro Rail journey from one station to another?** Use `get_rail_stations` first to find the station IDs for your origin and destination. Then use `get_rail_to_rail` with both station IDs to get the recommended rail route with transfer stations, estimated travel time, number of transfers, and step-by-step directions. You can also use `get_rail_arrivals` at your origin station to see when the next trains are coming. **Are there any service disruptions affecting Metro Rail or Metrobus right now?** Use `get_service_alerts` to check all active service disruptions across the LA Metro system. This returns alerts with affected routes and stations, disruption descriptions, severity levels, cause types (maintenance, incident, weather, special events), start and end times, and alternative service recommendations. Check this before planning any journey to ensure you are aware of delays or service changes.