How to Use the LA Metro MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How does a shared configuration for the LA Metro tools help my team in VS Code Copilot?

By putting the MCP Server config in .vscode/mcp.json and committing it to Git, everyone on the team gets the same tools automatically. This ensures consistent API access and behavior for all developers working on the project.

Q: What's the difference between getbuslocations and getbusvehicles?

They're similar, but getbuslocations is better for tracking all buses on a route. getbusvehicles is for getting data about specific, individual buses when you know their vehicle ID. Your agent can use either depending on the question.

Give your entire team access to LA Metro's real-time transit data inside VS Code with a shared Copilot configuration.

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Connect LA Metro MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect LA Metro 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.

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Setup LA Metro with VS Code Copilot

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Standardize Transit Data for Your Whole Team

Add the LA Metro MCP Server to your project's `.vscode/mcp.json` file. Once you commit it, every developer on your team gets instant access to all 12 transit tools through Copilot. No more individual API keys or setup scripts. Now, anyone can ask Copilot to 'get the schedule for bus route 2' using `get_bus_schedule` or 'find all stations on the Expo line' with `get_rail_stations`. Your team's AI agent now shares a single source of truth for LA's transit network.

Query Live Service Status and Plan Routes

Before deploying code that relies on transit, your team can check for issues. Copilot can use `get_service_alerts` to report any delays or outages. It's a quick sanity check right in the editor. For planning, the agent can call `get_rail_to_rail` to map out complex journeys. This is useful for testing logic that depends on transfer points and travel times, ensuring your app's recommendations are accurate.

Access Real-Time Vehicle Data with VS Code Copilot

Your agent can pull live locations for the entire bus and rail fleet. Use `get_bus_locations` to see where every bus on a route is, or `get_rail_vehicle_positions` to track trains across the system. This isn't just for viewing. You can ask Copilot to use this data to write test cases or populate a local database for development. It connects your team's code directly to the reality of LA's streets.

Setup guide

Set up LA Metro 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.json in your workspace.
2

Add the LA Metro 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 LA Metro tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent LA Metro transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "la-metro-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 LA Metro. 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 LA Metro MCP in VS Code Copilot

By putting the MCP Server config in `.vscode/mcp.json` and committing it to Git, everyone on the team gets the same tools automatically. This ensures consistent API access and behavior for all developers working on the project.

While Copilot is an interactive tool, you could build a script that uses the same underlying MCP. You'd ask Copilot to help you write a script that calls the `get_service_alerts` tool and fails a build if there are major disruptions.

First, you might need the stop ID. Ask Copilot 'find bus stops on route 10' using `get_bus_stops`. Then, with the ID, ask 'get predictions for stop ID 5678' to have it call `get_stop_predictions` for live ETAs.

They're similar, but `get_bus_locations` is better for tracking all buses on a route. `get_bus_vehicles` is for getting data about specific, individual buses when you know their vehicle ID. Your agent can use either depending on the question.

The server only requests and processes public transportation data—bus/rail locations and schedules—from the official LA Metro API. It never touches your codebase or proprietary information. All connections are over HTTPS, and Vinkius ensures that the execution environment for your MCP query is ephemeral and wiped clean after use.

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