mbta

# MBTA Transit Query real-time MBTA predictions via the v3 API. ## Setup ```bash # Optional but recommended for higher rate limits export MBTA_API_KEY=your_key_here # Free at https://api-v3.mbta.com/portal # Install dependencies pip install requests pyyaml flask # flask only needed for dashboard ``` ## Quick Commands ```bash cd skills/mbta # Next departures from a stop python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl # Alewife python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-harsq --route Red # Harvard, Red Line only # Search for stop IDs python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Porter" python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Kendall" # List routes python scripts/mbta.py routes # All routes python scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail # Subway only python scripts/mbta.py routes --type bus # Buses # Service alerts python scripts/mbta.py alerts # All alerts python scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Red # Red Line alerts # All configured departures (uses config.yaml) python scripts/mbta.py departures --config config.yaml # Start web dashboard python scripts/mbta.py dashboard --config config.yaml --port 6639 ``` ## Configuration Edit `config.yaml` to set up your stops: ```yaml panels: - title: "My Station" walk_minutes: 5 # Filter out trains you can't catch services: - label: "Red Line" destination: "to Alewife" route_id: "Red" stop_id: "place-harsq" direction_id: 0 # 0 or 1 for direction limit: 3 ``` Key fields: - `walk_minutes`: Trains departing sooner than this are filtered out - `direction_id`: 0 = outbound/north, 1 = inbound/south (varies by line) - `headsign_contains`: Optional filter (e.g., "Ashmont" to exclude Braintree) ## Finding Stop/Route IDs ```bash # Search stops python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Davis" # Returns: place-davis: Davis # Get routes python scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail # Returns route IDs like "Red", "Orange", "Green-E" ``` ## JSON Output Add `--json` for machine-readable output: ```bash python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl --json python scripts/mbta.py departures --config config.yaml --json ``` ## Common Stop IDs | Station | Stop ID | |---------|---------| | Alewife | place-alfcl | | Harvard | place-harsq | | Kendall/MIT | place-knncl | | Park Street | place-pktrm | | South Station | place-sstat | | North Station | place-north | | Back Bay | place-bbsta | | Downtown Crossing | place-dwnxg | ## Answering User Questions **"When's the next Red Line train?"** ```bash python scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl --route Red ``` **"Should I leave now to catch the T?"** Check departures against their walk time. If next train is ≤ walk_minutes, say "leave now!" **"Are there any delays on the Orange Line?"** ```bash python scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Orange ``` **"What buses go to Harvard?"** ```bash python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Harvard" # Then check routes at that stop python scripts/mbta.py next --stop <stop_id> ```