How to Use the MTA MCP in Cursor

Q: Does this MCP Server for MTA data work with Cursor's project-specific settings?

Yes. You can add the configuration to a .cursor/mcp.json file in your project's root directory. This means the MTA tools will only be active for that specific project, which is great for keeping your workspaces clean.

Build transit apps with live MTA data in Cursor. Inject real subway locations and bus arrival times directly into your code.

See Vinkius in Action

Works with every AI agent you already use

…and any MCP-compatible client

MCP Servers - Free for Subscribers

Connect MTA MCP to Cursor

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

GDPR Free for Subscribers

Setup MTA with Cursor

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Stop mocking, start building

This tool connects your Cursor agent to live MTA data feeds. You can tell your agent to hit the `get_subway_feed` or `get_bus_predictions` tools and then generate code that uses the *actual* response. No more placeholder data or writing parsers for API docs you haven't tested. Imagine you're building a React component to show train arrivals. Just prompt the agent: "Fetch the next 3 arrivals for the A train at Columbus Circle and build a list component." It calls the tool, gets the live data, and writes the component populated with real arrival times.

Map the entire transit network

Before you can track anything, you need to know what's available. This server gives your agent tools to discover the whole system. Use `get_stations` to pull a complete list of all subway stations, including their coordinates and line info. Need to work with buses? The agent can use `get_bus_routes` to find every route ID and `get_bus_stops` to get the exact location of every stop on a given line. It's perfect for populating a database or building out the backbone of a new transit application.

Test your app against real delays

A transit app that can't handle delays is useless. With the `get_service_alerts` tool, you can have your Cursor agent find active disruptions and then write code to handle them. It's the best way to build and test your app's error states and user notifications. Your agent can check for an ongoing incident, get the details, and then you can prompt it to build the UI for it. This lets you develop features for real-world scenarios, not just the happy path where every train is on time.

Setup guide

Set up MTA MCP in Cursor

Prerequisites

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

1

Open MCP Settings

Go to Cursor Settings → MCP or open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and search for "MCP: Add Server".
2

Add the MTA MCP

Cursor will create or open .cursor/mcp.json in your project root. Paste the JSON snippet on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Enable Agent mode

Open Composer (Cmd+I / Ctrl+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown at the top. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode.
4

Verify the connection

Ask Cursor something like "List my recent MTA transactions." If the MCP tools are loaded correctly, Cursor will call the MTA tools automatically. You can also check Settings → MCP for a green status indicator.

.cursor/mcp.json

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

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by MTA. 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.

Connect MTA now

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 MTA MCP in Cursor

After setting up the mcp.json file, switch your chat to Agent mode. Then, just instruct it to use a tool in your prompt, like 'Use get_service_alerts to check for delays on the L train and summarize them'.

No, the agent calls the MCP server, which then calls the MTA. The agent will generate code that displays the *data* from the tool call. This keeps your MTA API key secure and out of the client-side code.

The feed IDs are based on subway line groupings. The tool description for `get_subway_feed` lists them out. For example, to get data for the A, C, or E trains, you'd tell your agent to use feed ID '2'.

Yes. You can add the configuration to a `.cursor/mcp.json` file in your project's root directory. This means the MTA tools will only be active for that specific project, which is great for keeping your workspaces clean.

The server only sees the specific tool calls your agent makes, like a request for bus predictions at a certain stop ID. Vinkius infrastructure is ephemeral; it processes the request to the MTA API and returns the data without logging your code, prompts, or IP address.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

OpenAI Agents SDK sdk-python

Google ADK sdk-python

Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript