How to Use the WMATA MCP in Cursor

Q: How do I get WMATA bus positions when coding in Cursor?

Call getbuspositions and specify your filters (like a route ID). The response provides vehicle IDs, lat/long coordinates, and deviation from schedule in seconds. This data is ready to be used directly as variables in your code.

Q: Can I build a service status checker for WMATA incidents using Cursor?

Yes. You should check two main sources: getrailincidents for train issues, and getbusincidents for bus issues. Comparing the results lets your agent give users a complete view of system reliability across both modes.

Q: Where can I find WMATA parking lot availability using Cursor?

Use getparkinglots. You can query all lots or filter by station code to determine capacity. This is critical for logic that needs to guide users who are driving into the DC area.

Q: How do I handle WMATA accessibility checks using Cursor?

Run getelevatorincidents and cross-reference the affected station code with the user's desired destination. This lets your agent verify that a path is physically accessible before generating travel instructions.

Inject live WMATA data into your code using Cursor's agent mode.

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Connect WMATA MCP to Cursor

Create your Vinkius account to connect WMATA 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.

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Setup WMATA with Cursor

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Live Bus Position Data

The `get_bus_positions` tool is killer for coding. It streams vehicle ID, route ID, and current lat/long coordinates. You can use this response directly in your script to calculate precise real-time distance metrics or predict arrival times with high accuracy. When you're checking reliability, also call `get_bus_incidents`. This gives the incident type (accident, mechanical) along with start timestamps and affected route IDs, letting your code build a comprehensive status object for other services.

Full Station Structure & Access

To map out the journey fully, you need `get_bus_route_details`. It returns all stops in order and trip headsigns—this is better than just a list because it maintains sequence. For station entry points, use `get_station_entrances` to get latitude/longitude for street-level wayfinding. If you're building a multi-modal app, start by running `get_rail_stations` to gather all line codes and station identifiers needed for subsequent calls.

Predictive Arrival Logic

For predicting when something arrives, the server gives you two key functions. Use `get_circuit_predictions` for bus arrivals at a specific station (like Union Station). For trains, run `get_station_prediction`, which targets a single station code to give next arrival times and car counts. When combining services, always check `get_rail_incidents` first. Your logic must account for delays reported here before trusting any predicted time from the other prediction tools.

Setup guide

Set up WMATA 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 WMATA 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 WMATA transactions." If the MCP tools are loaded correctly, Cursor will call the WMATA tools automatically. You can also check Settings → MCP for a green status indicator.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "wmata-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 WMATA. 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 WMATA MCP in Cursor

Call `get_bus_positions` and specify your filters (like a route ID). The response provides vehicle IDs, lat/long coordinates, and deviation from schedule in seconds. This data is ready to be used directly as variables in your code.

You must use the station code (a 3-letter ID) first, which you can find by running `get_rail_stations`. Then, feed that specific station code into `get_station_prediction` to get targeted arrival times and line colors.

Yes. You should check two main sources: `get_rail_incidents` for train issues, and `get_bus_incidents` for bus issues. Comparing the results lets your agent give users a complete view of system reliability across both modes.

Use `get_parking_lots`. You can query all lots or filter by station code to determine capacity. This is critical for logic that needs to guide users who are driving into the DC area.

Run `get_elevator_incidents` and cross-reference the affected station code with the user's desired destination. This lets your agent verify that a path is physically accessible before generating travel instructions.

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