CapMetro Austin Transit
Real-time Austin CapMetro transit data - vehicle positions, next arrivals, service alerts, and route information. No API key required.
When to Use
- User asks about Austin bus or train schedules, arrival times, or delays
- User asks "when is the next bus/train" or "is the 801 running"
- User asks about CapMetro service alerts, detours, or disruptions
- User wants to know where a bus/train currently is
- User asks about nearby stops or route information
- User mentions MetroRail (Red Line), MetroRapid (801/803), or any Austin bus route
- User asks about CapMetro fares, how to ride, or general transit info
Data Sources
All feeds are open access, no API key required, hosted on the Texas Open Data Portal.
GTFS-RT (Real-Time) Feeds - Updated every 15 seconds
| Feed |
Format |
URL |
| Vehicle Positions |
JSON |
https://data.texas.gov/download/cuc7-ywmd/text%2Fplain |
| Vehicle Positions |
Protobuf |
https://data.texas.gov/download/eiei-9rpf/application%2Foctet-stream |
| Trip Updates |
Protobuf |
https://data.texas.gov/download/rmk2-acnw/application%2Foctet-stream |
| Service Alerts |
Protobuf |
https://data.texas.gov/download/nusn-7fcn/application%2Foctet-stream |
GTFS Static Feed - Route/Stop/Schedule data
| Feed |
Format |
URL |
| GTFS Static (zip) |
ZIP |
https://data.texas.gov/download/r4v4-vz24/application%2Fx-zip-compressed |
Implementation
Quick Start: Use the helper scripts
The scripts in this skill's scripts/ directory handle fetching, parsing, and presenting CapMetro data.
Script: scripts/capmetro.mjs
Main entry point. Supports these commands:
# Get current service alerts
node scripts/capmetro.mjs alerts
# Get real-time vehicle positions (optionally filter by route)
node scripts/capmetro.mjs vehicles [--route 801]
# Get next arrivals at a stop (by stop_id)
node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop <stop_id>
# Get arrivals by searching stop name (uses best match)
node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop-search "lakeline" --route 550
# Get arrivals filtered by direction/headsign
node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop-search "downtown" --route 550 --headsign "lakeline"
# Get arrivals filtered by route at a stop
node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop <stop_id> --route 801
# Search for stops by name or location
node scripts/capmetro.mjs stops --search "domain"
node scripts/capmetro.mjs stops --near 30.4,-97.7
# List all routes
node scripts/capmetro.mjs routes
# Get route details including stops
node scripts/capmetro.mjs route-info --route 801
# Download/refresh GTFS static data (run periodically)
node scripts/capmetro.mjs refresh-gtfs
Setup: GTFS Static Data
On first use, run node scripts/capmetro.mjs refresh-gtfs to download and extract the static GTFS data (routes, stops, schedules) to ~/.capmetro/gtfs/. This only needs to be refreshed when CapMetro updates their schedule (typically quarterly or during service changes).
Key Route Reference
| Route |
Name |
Type |
| 550 |
MetroRail Red Line |
Rail (Leander ↔ Downtown) |
| 801 |
MetroRapid North/South |
Rapid Bus (Tech Ridge ↔ Southpark Meadows) |
| 803 |
MetroRapid Burnet/South Lamar |
Rapid Bus (Domain ↔ Westgate) |
| 1 |
N Lamar/S Congress |
Local Bus |
| 7 |
Duval/Dove Springs |
Local Bus |
| 10 |
S 1st/Red River |
Local Bus |
| 20 |
Manor Rd/Riverside |
Local Bus |
| 300 |
Oltorf/Riverside Crosstown |
Crosstown Bus |
| 325 |
Ohlen/Loyola |
Crosstown Bus |
| 985 |
Night Owl |
Late Night Service |
Tips for Users
- Stop IDs can be found on CapMetro stop signs, in the Transit app, or by searching with the
stops command
- MetroRapid 801/803 have the most frequent service (every 10-12 minutes during peak)
- MetroRail Red Line (550) runs Leander to Downtown Austin with limited frequency
- Service alerts often contain detour information - check alerts before advising routes
- Vehicle position data updates every ~15 seconds, so locations are near real-time
Error Handling
- If a feed returns an error or empty data, inform the user that real-time data may be temporarily unavailable
- The JSON vehicle positions feed is easier to parse and a good fallback if protobuf parsing fails
- GTFS static data is required for stop names, route names, and schedule lookups - ensure it's been downloaded
Response Formatting
When presenting transit info to the user:
- Lead with the most actionable info (next arrival time, active alerts)
- Include route number AND name (e.g., "Route 801 MetroRapid")
- Show times in 12-hour format with AM/PM
- For delays, show both scheduled and estimated times
- For vehicle positions, describe location relative to landmarks when possible
- If there are active service alerts for the route the user asked about, always mention them
Fares Reference (as of 2025)
| Fare Type |
Price |
| Local / MetroRapid |
$1.25 |
| MetroRail |
$3.50 (single) |
| Day Pass |
$2.50 |
| 7-Day Pass |
$11.25 |
| 31-Day Pass |
$41.25 |
Payment via Umo app, tap-to-pay, or fare card. Free transfers within 2 hours.
External Endpoints
| Endpoint |
Data Sent |
Data Received |
data.texas.gov/download/cuc7-ywmd/... |
None (GET only) |
Vehicle positions (JSON) |
data.texas.gov/download/eiei-9rpf/... |
None (GET only) |
Vehicle positions (Protobuf) |
data.texas.gov/download/rmk2-acnw/... |
None (GET only) |
Trip updates (Protobuf) |
data.texas.gov/download/nusn-7fcn/... |
None (GET only) |
Service alerts (Protobuf) |
data.texas.gov/download/r4v4-vz24/... |
None (GET only) |
GTFS static data (ZIP) |
All endpoints are open-access Texas Open Data Portal URLs. No API key, authentication, or user data is transmitted.
Security & Privacy
- No credentials required - all data sources are open access, no API keys or tokens
- No user data transmitted - requests are anonymous GET calls with no query parameters containing user info
- Local storage only - GTFS static data is cached locally at
~/.capmetro/gtfs/; no data is written elsewhere
- No telemetry - this skill does not phone home or collect usage data
- Input handling - stop names and route IDs from user input are used only for local filtering, never interpolated into URLs or shell commands
Trust Statement
This skill only reads publicly available transit data from the Texas Open Data Portal. It does not access, store, or transmit any personal information. All network requests are read-only GET calls to open government data feeds.
1---2name: capmetro-skill3description: Austin CapMetro transit - real-time vehicle positions, next arrivals, service alerts, route info, and trip planning for buses and rail (MetroRail, MetroRapid, MetroBus). Use when the user asks about Austin public transit, bus schedules, train times, CapMetro alerts, or nearby stops.4license: MIT5---6
7# CapMetro Austin Transit
8
9Real-time Austin CapMetro transit data - vehicle positions, next arrivals, service alerts, and route information. No API key required.
10
11## When to Use
12
13- User asks about Austin bus or train schedules, arrival times, or delays
14- User asks "when is the next bus/train" or "is the 801 running"
15- User asks about CapMetro service alerts, detours, or disruptions
16- User wants to know where a bus/train currently is
17- User asks about nearby stops or route information
18- User mentions MetroRail (Red Line), MetroRapid (801/803), or any Austin bus route
19- User asks about CapMetro fares, how to ride, or general transit info
20
21## Data Sources
22
23All feeds are **open access, no API key required**, hosted on the Texas Open Data Portal.
24
25### GTFS-RT (Real-Time) Feeds - Updated every 15 seconds
26
27| Feed | Format | URL |
28|------|--------|-----|
29| Vehicle Positions | JSON | `https://data.texas.gov/download/cuc7-ywmd/text%2Fplain` |
30| Vehicle Positions | Protobuf | `https://data.texas.gov/download/eiei-9rpf/application%2Foctet-stream` |
31| Trip Updates | Protobuf | `https://data.texas.gov/download/rmk2-acnw/application%2Foctet-stream` |
32| Service Alerts | Protobuf | `https://data.texas.gov/download/nusn-7fcn/application%2Foctet-stream` |
33
34### GTFS Static Feed - Route/Stop/Schedule data
35
36| Feed | Format | URL |
37|------|--------|-----|
38| GTFS Static (zip) | ZIP | `https://data.texas.gov/download/r4v4-vz24/application%2Fx-zip-compressed` |
39
40## Implementation
41
42### Quick Start: Use the helper scripts
43
44The scripts in this skill's `scripts/` directory handle fetching, parsing, and presenting CapMetro data.
45
46### Script: `scripts/capmetro.mjs`
47
48Main entry point. Supports these commands:
49
50```bash
51# Get current service alerts
52node scripts/capmetro.mjs alerts
53
54# Get real-time vehicle positions (optionally filter by route)
55node scripts/capmetro.mjs vehicles [--route 801]
56
57# Get next arrivals at a stop (by stop_id)
58node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop <stop_id>
59
60# Get arrivals by searching stop name (uses best match)
61node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop-search "lakeline" --route 550
62
63# Get arrivals filtered by direction/headsign
64node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop-search "downtown" --route 550 --headsign "lakeline"
65
66# Get arrivals filtered by route at a stop
67node scripts/capmetro.mjs arrivals --stop <stop_id> --route 801
68
69# Search for stops by name or location
70node scripts/capmetro.mjs stops --search "domain"
71node scripts/capmetro.mjs stops --near 30.4,-97.7
72
73# List all routes
74node scripts/capmetro.mjs routes
75
76# Get route details including stops
77node scripts/capmetro.mjs route-info --route 801
78
79# Download/refresh GTFS static data (run periodically)
80node scripts/capmetro.mjs refresh-gtfs
81```
82
83### Setup: GTFS Static Data
84
85On first use, run `node scripts/capmetro.mjs refresh-gtfs` to download and extract the static GTFS data (routes, stops, schedules) to `~/.capmetro/gtfs/`. This only needs to be refreshed when CapMetro updates their schedule (typically quarterly or during service changes).
86
87### Key Route Reference
88
89| Route | Name | Type |
90|-------|------|------|
91| 550 | MetroRail Red Line | Rail (Leander ↔ Downtown) |
92| 801 | MetroRapid North/South | Rapid Bus (Tech Ridge ↔ Southpark Meadows) |
93| 803 | MetroRapid Burnet/South Lamar | Rapid Bus (Domain ↔ Westgate) |
94| 1 | N Lamar/S Congress | Local Bus |
95| 7 | Duval/Dove Springs | Local Bus |
96| 10 | S 1st/Red River | Local Bus |
97| 20 | Manor Rd/Riverside | Local Bus |
98| 300 | Oltorf/Riverside Crosstown | Crosstown Bus |
99| 325 | Ohlen/Loyola | Crosstown Bus |
100| 985 | Night Owl | Late Night Service |
101
102### Tips for Users
103
104- **Stop IDs** can be found on CapMetro stop signs, in the Transit app, or by searching with the `stops` command
105- **MetroRapid 801/803** have the most frequent service (every 10-12 minutes during peak)
106- **MetroRail Red Line (550)** runs Leander to Downtown Austin with limited frequency
107- Service alerts often contain detour information - check alerts before advising routes
108- Vehicle position data updates every ~15 seconds, so locations are near real-time
109
110### Error Handling
111
112- If a feed returns an error or empty data, inform the user that real-time data may be temporarily unavailable
113- The JSON vehicle positions feed is easier to parse and a good fallback if protobuf parsing fails
114- GTFS static data is required for stop names, route names, and schedule lookups - ensure it's been downloaded
115
116### Response Formatting
117
118When presenting transit info to the user:
119- Lead with the most actionable info (next arrival time, active alerts)
120- Include route number AND name (e.g., "Route 801 MetroRapid")
121- Show times in 12-hour format with AM/PM
122- For delays, show both scheduled and estimated times
123- For vehicle positions, describe location relative to landmarks when possible
124- If there are active service alerts for the route the user asked about, always mention them
125
126## Fares Reference (as of 2025)
127
128| Fare Type | Price |
129|-----------|-------|
130| Local / MetroRapid | $1.25 |
131| MetroRail | $3.50 (single) |
132| Day Pass | $2.50 |
133| 7-Day Pass | $11.25 |
134| 31-Day Pass | $41.25 |
135
136Payment via Umo app, tap-to-pay, or fare card. Free transfers within 2 hours.
137
138## External Endpoints
139
140| Endpoint | Data Sent | Data Received |
141|----------|-----------|---------------|
142| `data.texas.gov/download/cuc7-ywmd/...` | None (GET only) | Vehicle positions (JSON) |
143| `data.texas.gov/download/eiei-9rpf/...` | None (GET only) | Vehicle positions (Protobuf) |
144| `data.texas.gov/download/rmk2-acnw/...` | None (GET only) | Trip updates (Protobuf) |
145| `data.texas.gov/download/nusn-7fcn/...` | None (GET only) | Service alerts (Protobuf) |
146| `data.texas.gov/download/r4v4-vz24/...` | None (GET only) | GTFS static data (ZIP) |
147
148All endpoints are open-access Texas Open Data Portal URLs. No API key, authentication, or user data is transmitted.
149
150## Security & Privacy
151
152- **No credentials required** - all data sources are open access, no API keys or tokens
153- **No user data transmitted** - requests are anonymous GET calls with no query parameters containing user info
154- **Local storage only** - GTFS static data is cached locally at `~/.capmetro/gtfs/`; no data is written elsewhere
155- **No telemetry** - this skill does not phone home or collect usage data
156- **Input handling** - stop names and route IDs from user input are used only for local filtering, never interpolated into URLs or shell commands
157
158## Trust Statement
159
160This skill only reads publicly available transit data from the Texas Open Data Portal. It does not access, store, or transmit any personal information. All network requests are read-only GET calls to open government data feeds.
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