# LA Metro MCP

> LA Metro MCP provides real-time data for Los Angeles public transit, letting your AI client track buses and trains instantly. Check arrivals at any station or stop, plan rail trips between locations, and monitor service disruptions across the entire network using natural conversation.

## Overview
- **Category:** government-public-data
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** public-transit, real-time-data, bus-tracking, rail-schedules, urban-mobility, api-integration

## Description

Forget opening multiple websites just to figure out how to get around LA. This MCP connects your agent directly to the Los Angeles Metro public transit data system. You can ask it things like, 'When does the next train arrive at Union Station?' or 'Show me all bus routes that go through Downtown.' It pulls real-time vehicle positions and arrival predictions instantly. Need to plan a trip from North Hollywood to Santa Monica? The AI handles the rail-to-rail transfers automatically. When you connect this MCP via Vinkius, your agent acts as a dedicated transit analyst, giving you all the schedule data, service alerts, and live tracking you need—all without you ever leaving your client window.

## Tools

### get_bus_locations
Returns the real-time GPS coordinates and identifiers for all active buses in the LA Metro system.

### get_bus_routes
Lists every bus route available, including its type (local, rapid, express) and metadata across LA County.

### get_bus_schedule
Retrieves the full schedule patterns and stop sequences for any specified Metrobus route.

### get_bus_stops
Lists all bus stops in the system, providing their names, coordinates, and which routes serve them.

### get_bus_vehicles
Provides live tracking details for every Metrobus vehicle, including its current position and direction of travel.

### get_rail_arrivals
Predicts the next train arrival times at any specific Metro Rail station, listing line color and destination.

### get_rail_vehicle_positions
Tracks the live GPS positions of all Metro Rail trains, useful for visualizing fleet movements.

### get_rail_routes
Lists all major Metro Rail lines, detailing their colors, operational metadata, and scope within the network.

### get_rail_stations
Maps every rail station in LA Metro with its coordinates, affiliated lines, and order on those routes.

### get_rail_to_rail
Calculates complete journey plans between any two stations using only the train lines and transfers available.

### get_service_alerts
Checks the current status of the network, returning details on any disruptions or scheduled maintenance affecting routes and stations.

### get_stop_predictions
Predicts the next bus arrival time in minutes and seconds for a specific stop ID.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Show me all Metrobus stops on the 720 Rapid route.
```

**Response:** 
```
Fetching stops for Route 720 Rapid... I found 76 stops along this east-west rapid corridor. Key stops include: Atlantic Station (East end), Indiana Street, Soto Street, Boyle Heights, 1st/Main, Civic Center, Grand Avenue, Westlake/MacArthur Park, Wilshire/Vermont, Wilshire/Normandie, Wilshire/Western, Koreatown, Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood/UCLA, and Santa Monica Blvd/Westwood (West end). Would you like predictions for a specific stop?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
What are the next Red Line trains arriving at Union Station?
```

**Response:** 
```
Fetching Red Line arrivals at Union Station (station 80222)... Next trains: North Hollywood — 3 minutes, 6 cars; North Hollywood — 11 minutes, 6 cars; North Hollywood — 19 minutes, 6 cars. All Red Line trains operating on schedule with no service alerts. Trains run approximately every 8 minutes during peak hours. Would you like me to check rail-to-rail connections from Union Station to your destination?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Plan a rail journey from North Hollywood to Santa Monica.
```

**Response:** 
```
Planning rail-to-rail journey... Recommended route: Take B Line (Red) from North Hollywood to 7th Street/Metro Center — 26 minutes. Transfer to E Line (Expo) at 7th Street/Metro Center heading westbound to Downtown Santa Monica — 32 minutes. Total journey time: approximately 58 minutes plus transfer time. 1 transfer required. Both lines running on schedule. Would you like me to check next train times at North Hollywood station?
```

## Capabilities

### Get real-time vehicle locations
Track the exact GPS positions of active buses and trains across the entire LA Metro network.

### Predict next arrivals at any stop
Receive precise arrival predictions, showing minutes and seconds until a bus or train reaches your specified location.

### Plan rail-to-rail journeys
Calculate step-by-step travel plans between two Metro Rail stations, including transfer points and estimated total time.

### Discover network routes and stops
Browse all available bus and train lines in the LA County area, or list every stop on a specific route.

### Monitor service status
Check for active disruptions, maintenance, or weather-related delays across both rail and bus systems.

## Use Cases

### A Tourist needs directions from Hollywood to Venice.
The user asks the agent, 'How do I get from Hollywood to Santa Monica by rail?' The agent uses `get_rail_to_rail` to return a step-by-step guide: take the B Line to 7th Street/Metro Center, then transfer to the E Line. Total time is clear.

### A Commuter needs to check for unexpected delays.
The user asks, 'Is Metro running normally today?' The agent calls `get_service_alerts`, immediately finding out about a Purple Line delay and suggesting alternative routes before the commuter even leaves home.

### A Developer needs to map all available stops.
The developer uses `get_bus_stops` to pull a complete, structured list of every single bus stop ID and its coordinates across LA County for their own app build.

### An Operations Team Member tracks fleet status.
The team asks, 'Where are all the buses on Route 720 right now?' The agent calls `get_bus_locations`, providing real-time coordinates for every active vehicle to monitor service coverage.

## Benefits

- Real-Time Tracking: Stop guessing. Use `get_bus_vehicles` or `get_rail_vehicle_positions` to see exactly where buses and trains are right now.
- Trip Planning Mastery: Instead of mapping apps, use `get_rail_to_rail` to plan multi-line journeys instantly, getting total time and required transfers.
- Service Awareness: Never get caught by a delay. Run `get_service_alerts` first to check for disruptions before you even start planning the trip.
- Comprehensive Data: Get the full picture of the system using `get_bus_routes` and `get_rail_routes` to understand every line available in LA Metro.
- Pinpoint Accuracy: Need to know when a specific bus is coming? Use `get_stop_predictions` for minute-by-minute arrival estimates at any stop.

## How It Works

The bottom line is your agent handles all the complex data retrieval so you just get a plain-language answer about your trip.

1. Subscribe to the LA Metro MCP on Vinkius and enter your API key (if needed).
2. Your AI client executes a natural language request, like 'What's going on with the Red Line?'
3. The MCP runs the necessary data queries and returns a structured answer detailing arrivals, routes, or service alerts.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I check if a specific bus stop is running late using get_stop_predictions?**
Use `get_stop_predictions` with the specific Stop ID. It returns predicted arrival times in minutes and seconds, telling you exactly when the next vehicle should arrive.

**What do I use to plan a trip from one train line to another?**
The `get_rail_to_rail` tool is for planning trips between two Metro Rail stations. It calculates the best route, total time, and any necessary transfers.

**Can I track all buses across LA County at once? How do I use get_bus_locations?**
Yes, `get_bus_locations` returns the real-time GPS coordinates for every active bus. This is essential for visualizing the entire fleet's movement across the service area.

**Do I need to know every station code before calling get_rail_arrivals?**
No, you only need the Station Name or ID. The tool finds next train arrivals at that specific location for all lines and destinations.

**If I only know a neighborhood name, how do I use `get_bus_routes` to find the correct route ID?**
The tool returns all routes and their names across LA County. You can search this list by key words in the route name or description to identify the specific Route ID needed for scheduling queries.

**When I run `get_service_alerts`, what do different severity levels mean, and how should they affect my trip plan?**
The alerts include a defined severity level. 'Minor Delay' means you might wait longer; 'Service Interruption' indicates the route is likely offline or requires an immediate alternative.

**Should I use `get_bus_stops` to get a comprehensive inventory of every available bus stop in Los Angeles?**
Yes. Running `get_bus_stops` without specifying a route ID returns the complete system list, including coordinates and service messages for every active bus stop.

**Does running `get_bus_vehicles` require special credentials, or is real-time tracking data generally accessible?**
Basic calls to `get_bus_vehicles` often pull open data endpoints, giving you the live GPS coordinates and status of active buses system-wide without needing advanced authentication.

**Can my AI check when the next Metrobus is arriving at a specific stop in LA?**
Yes! First use `get_bus_stops` with a route_id to find the stop ID for your location. Then use `get_stop_predictions` with that stop ID to get real-time arrival predictions in minutes and seconds, including route numbers, direction, and whether the bus is departing soon. This gives you live predictions based on actual vehicle GPS positions and schedule adherence.

**How do I plan a Metro Rail journey from one station to another?**
Use `get_rail_stations` first to find the station IDs for your origin and destination. Then use `get_rail_to_rail` with both station IDs to get the recommended rail route with transfer stations, estimated travel time, number of transfers, and step-by-step directions. You can also use `get_rail_arrivals` at your origin station to see when the next trains are coming.

**Are there any service disruptions affecting Metro Rail or Metrobus right now?**
Use `get_service_alerts` to check all active service disruptions across the LA Metro system. This returns alerts with affected routes and stations, disruption descriptions, severity levels, cause types (maintenance, incident, weather, special events), start and end times, and alternative service recommendations. Check this before planning any journey to ensure you are aware of delays or service changes.