How do I install the Mbta skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add kbarbel640-del/mbta in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: executes scripts, makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Mbta?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

kbarbel640-del (@kbarbel640-del) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Mbta by kbarbel640-del — Agent Skill

Name: Mbta
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: kbarbel640-del

Mbta

Real-time MBTA transit predictions for Boston-area subway, bus, commuter rail, and ferry. Query departure times, search stops/routes, check service alerts, and run a live dashboard. Use when asked about Boston transit, T schedules, when to leave for the train, or MBTA service status.

kbarbel640-del Updated Sep 8, 2026 1 repo stars

File contents

MBTA Transit

Query real-time MBTA predictions via the v3 API.

Setup

# 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

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:

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

# 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:

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?"

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?"

python scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Orange

"What buses go to Harvard?"

python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Harvard"
# Then check routes at that stop
python scripts/mbta.py next --stop <stop_id>

---name: mbtadescription: Real-time MBTA transit predictions for Boston-area subway, bus, commuter rail, and ferry. Query departure times, search stops/routes, check service alerts, and run a live dashboard. Use when asked about Boston transit, T schedules, when to leave for the train, or MBTA service status.---# MBTA TransitQuery real-time MBTA predictions via the v3 API.## Setup```bash# Optional but recommended for higher rate limitsexport MBTA_API_KEY=your_key_here # Free at https://api-v3.mbta.com/portal# Install dependenciespip install requests pyyaml flask # flask only needed for dashboard```## Quick Commands```bashcd skills/mbta# Next departures from a stoppython scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl # Alewifepython scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-harsq --route Red # Harvard, Red Line only# Search for stop IDspython scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Porter"python scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Kendall"# List routespython scripts/mbta.py routes # All routespython scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail # Subway onlypython scripts/mbta.py routes --type bus # Buses# Service alertspython scripts/mbta.py alerts # All alertspython 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 dashboardpython scripts/mbta.py dashboard --config config.yaml --port 6639```## ConfigurationEdit `config.yaml` to set up your stops:```yamlpanels: - 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 stopspython scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Davis"# Returns: place-davis: Davis# Get routespython scripts/mbta.py routes --type rail# Returns route IDs like "Red", "Orange", "Green-E"```## JSON OutputAdd `--json` for machine-readable output:```bashpython scripts/mbta.py next --stop place-alfcl --jsonpython 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?"**```bashpython 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?"**```bashpython scripts/mbta.py alerts --route Orange```**"What buses go to Harvard?"**```bashpython scripts/mbta.py stops --search "Harvard"# Then check routes at that stoppython scripts/mbta.py next --stop <stop_id>```

Frequently asked questions