How to Use the CTA MCP in VS Code Copilot
Connect VS Code Copilot to CTA transit data. Manage your team's transit integrations with shared MCP configs.
Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client
Connect CTA MCP to VS Code Copilot
Create your Vinkius account to connect CTA to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.
Team-wide CTA transit integration
Standardize how your team accesses transit data by committing the server config to your repo. Everyone gets access to `get_bus_predictions` and `get_train_arrivals` without individual setup. Using these tools ensures consistency across your engineering team. You can rely on the same `get_bus_routes` output for every developer working on the project.
Operational awareness for your team
Keep your team informed about CTA service health. The `get_route_status` tool provides a quick snapshot of the system, helping you plan around potential bottlenecks. Detailed alerts from `get_service_alerts` help your team understand the impact of delays. You get clear descriptions of maintenance or incidents affecting the network.
Automated transit network mapping
Query the transit network structure directly from VS Code. Tools like `get_bus_stops` and `get_stop_details` provide the precise metadata your team needs for location-based features. Your agent can also use `get_route_directions` to ensure your transit logic accounts for proper directional flow. It removes the need for manual data scraping.
Set up CTA MCP in VS Code Copilot
Prerequisites
- VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
- Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token
- 1
Open MCP configuration
Open the Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+P/Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create.vscode/mcp.jsonin your workspace. - 2
Add the CTA MCP
Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your
.vscode/mcp.json. Replace[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. - 3
Switch to Agent mode
Open Copilot Chat (
Cmd+Shift+I/Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes. - 4
Verify the connection
In the Copilot Chat input, type
#to list available tools. You should see the CTA tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent CTA transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.
{
"mcpServers": {
"cta-mcp": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by CTA. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.
Why Choose Vinkius
Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.
Real-time monitoring
Live
visibility into every interaction
Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.
Built-in savings
60%
lower AI costs
Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.
Single dashboard
One
place for every integration
Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.
Common questions about CTA MCP in VS Code Copilot
Use it with your favorite AI tools
Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.
Start using the CTA MCP today
We host it, we monitor it, we maintain it. You just paste one token.
