How to Use the CTA MCP in Windsurf

Q: How does the CTA MCP Server connect to Windsurf?

You add the server to your /.codeium/windsurf/mcpconfig.json file under the mcpServers key. Windsurf auto-discovers all eleven transit tools, allowing Cascade to query real-time Chicago transit data immediately.

Q: Can Windsurf chain queries to find a specific CTA bus arrival?

Yes. Cascade uses getbusstops to locate the stop ID on a route like the 22 Clark, then automatically executes getbuspredictions to show you the exact arrival minutes in your chat panel.

Q: Can I monitor system-wide transit health inside the editor?

Yes, the agent calls getroutestatus to pull live status indicators like SEVERE DELAYS or PLANNED WORK for all L lines and bus routes.

Let Windsurf track active L trains and bus routes in Chicago autonomously while you code.

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Connect CTA MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect CTA to Windsurf and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup CTA with Windsurf

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Live train tracking inside Cascade

The `get_train_positions` tool lets Cascade monitor live CTA train runs across all eight color-coded L lines in Chicago. Instead of manually looking up delays, the agent pulls active vehicle coordinates, heading directions, and delay indicators directly into your editor context. When you ask Cascade to debug a transit dashboard, it spins up a multi-step plan. It queries `get_train_arrivals` to fetch real-time predictions for stations like Clark/Lake, correlates the schedule drift, and updates your local UI mockups without you writing a single fetch request.

Auto-resolve Chicago bus routes and stops

The `get_bus_stops` tool fetches geographic coordinates, stop sequences, and direction details for any active Chicago bus route. Cascade uses this data to map out stop-level details without needing an external browser. If you need to build a route-planning utility, Cascade calls `get_bus_routes` to pull the full Chicago transit catalog, then chains `get_route_directions` to organize the outbound and inbound paths. The agent handles the structural mapping behind the scenes, leaving you with clean, populated JSON arrays ready for your frontend.

Real-time service alert parsing with this MCP Server

The `get_service_alerts` tool feeds active Chicago transit disruptions, maintenance schedules, and detour details directly into your Windsurf workspace. It identifies the root causes of delays, from weather incidents to track construction, across specific routes. This MCP Server lets Cascade monitor the overall health of the CTA network using `get_route_status`. If a major delay hits the Red Line, Cascade catches the status change and alerts you inline, meaning you don't have to leave your code to know why your local test API is acting up.

Setup guide

Set up CTA MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the CTA MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my CTA payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the CTA tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cta-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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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.

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Common questions about CTA MCP in Windsurf

You add the server to your ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json file under the mcpServers key. Windsurf auto-discovers all eleven transit tools, allowing Cascade to query real-time Chicago transit data immediately.

Yes. Cascade uses get_bus_stops to locate the stop ID on a route like the 22 Clark, then automatically executes get_bus_predictions to show you the exact arrival minutes in your chat panel.

No. Vinkius hosts the server and manages the authentication layer, giving your Windsurf agent instant access to Chicago bus and train positions through a secure MCP connection.

Yes, the agent calls get_route_status to pull live status indicators like SEVERE DELAYS or PLANNED WORK for all L lines and bus routes.

Vinkius processes your stop IDs and route queries inside a zero-trust, ephemeral V8 isolate sandbox. No search history or geographic coordinates of the CTA stops you query are logged or stored persistently on our servers.

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