MBTA

MBTA V3 API

The MBTA V3 API provides access to MBTA schedules, alerts, and realtime information. It uses the JSON:API format and covers routes, stops, trips, schedules, predictions, vehicles, and alerts.

GitHub OpenAPI

Documentation

📖
Documentation
https://www.mbta.com/developers/v3-api

Specifications

⚙
OpenAPI
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/mbta/refs/heads/main/openapi/mbta-mbta-v3-api-openapi.yml

Other Resources

🔗
Reference
https://api-v3.mbta.com/
🔗
Getting Started
https://www.mbta.com/developers

OpenAPI Specification

mbta-mbta-v3-api-openapi.yml Raw ↑ 
openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: MBTA V3 API
  description: >-
    The MBTA V3 API provides fast, easy access to Massachusetts Bay
    Transportation Authority schedules, alerts, and real-time information.
    Returns JSON:API formatted responses (application/vnd.api+json) for
    routes, stops, trips, schedules, predictions, vehicles, alerts, lines,
    facilities, services, shapes, and route patterns. Free API keys are
    available via the developer portal for higher rate limits.
  version: '3.0'
  contact:
    name: MBTA Developers
    url: https://www.mbta.com/developers
  termsOfService: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/27/massdot-developers-license-agreement.pdf
externalDocs:
  description: MBTA V3 API Documentation
  url: https://www.mbta.com/developers/v3-api
servers:
  - url: https://api-v3.mbta.com
    description: Production
tags:
  - name: Alerts
    description: Service disruption communications
  - name: Facilities
    description: Stop amenities such as elevators and bike racks
  - name: Lines
    description: Transit lines grouped by mode
  - name: Predictions
    description: Real-time arrival and departure forecasts
  - name: Routes
    description: Route information per line
  - name: RoutePatterns
    description: Possible travel patterns within a route
  - name: Schedules
    description: Scheduled stop times
  - name: Services
    description: Operational dates and frequencies
  - name: Shapes
    description: Trip route polylines for mapping
  - name: Stops
    description: Boarding and disembarking locations
  - name: Trips
    description: Vehicle journey definitions
  - name: Vehicles
    description: Vehicle movement and position data
  - name: StopEvents
    description: Experimental endpoint for stop event data
security:
  - apiKeyHeader: []
  - apiKeyQuery: []
paths:
  /alerts:
    get:
      operationId: listAlerts
      summary: List alerts
      description: Returns service disruption alerts.
      tags: [Alerts]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '400': { $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest' }
        '403': { $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden' }
        '429': { $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited' }
  /alerts/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getAlert
      summary: Get alert
      description: Returns a single alert by ID.
      tags: [Alerts]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /facilities:
    get:
      operationId: listFacilities
      summary: List facilities
      description: Returns stop amenities such as elevators and bike racks.
      tags: [Facilities]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '429': { $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited' }
  /facilities/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getFacility
      summary: Get facility
      tags: [Facilities]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /lines:
    get:
      operationId: listLines
      summary: List lines
      description: Returns transit lines grouped by mode.
      tags: [Lines]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /lines/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getLine
      summary: Get line
      tags: [Lines]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /predictions:
    get:
      operationId: listPredictions
      summary: List predictions
      description: Returns real-time arrival and departure predictions.
      tags: [Predictions]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[stop]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[trip]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[direction_id]
          in: query
          schema: { type: integer, enum: [0, 1] }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '400': { $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest' }
  /routes:
    get:
      operationId: listRoutes
      summary: List routes
      tags: [Routes]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[stop]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[type]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[direction_id]
          in: query
          schema: { type: integer, enum: [0, 1] }
        - name: filter[date]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string, format: date }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /routes/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getRoute
      summary: Get route
      tags: [Routes]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /route_patterns:
    get:
      operationId: listRoutePatterns
      summary: List route patterns
      tags: [RoutePatterns]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /route_patterns/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getRoutePattern
      summary: Get route pattern
      tags: [RoutePatterns]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /schedules:
    get:
      operationId: listSchedules
      summary: List schedules
      tags: [Schedules]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[date]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string, format: date }
        - name: filter[direction_id]
          in: query
          schema: { type: integer, enum: [0, 1] }
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[stop]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[trip]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[min_time]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[max_time]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /services:
    get:
      operationId: listServices
      summary: List services
      tags: [Services]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /services/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getService
      summary: Get service
      tags: [Services]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /shapes:
    get:
      operationId: listShapes
      summary: List shapes
      description: Returns trip route polylines. Requires filter[route].
      tags: [Shapes]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          required: true
          schema: { type: string }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '400': { $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest' }
  /shapes/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getShape
      summary: Get shape
      tags: [Shapes]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /stops:
    get:
      operationId: listStops
      summary: List stops
      tags: [Stops]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[latitude]
          in: query
          schema: { type: number, format: float }
        - name: filter[longitude]
          in: query
          schema: { type: number, format: float }
        - name: filter[radius]
          in: query
          schema: { type: number, format: float }
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[route_type]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[location_type]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /stops/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getStop
      summary: Get stop
      tags: [Stops]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /trips:
    get:
      operationId: listTrips
      summary: List trips
      tags: [Trips]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[date]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string, format: date }
        - name: filter[direction_id]
          in: query
          schema: { type: integer, enum: [0, 1] }
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[route_pattern]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[name]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /trips/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getTrip
      summary: Get trip
      tags: [Trips]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
  /vehicles:
    get:
      operationId: listVehicles
      summary: List vehicles
      tags: [Vehicles]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageOffset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/PageLimit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Sort'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
        - name: filter[trip]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[label]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[route]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
        - name: filter[direction_id]
          in: query
          schema: { type: integer, enum: [0, 1] }
        - name: filter[route_type]
          in: query
          schema: { type: string }
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
  /vehicles/{id}:
    get:
      operationId: getVehicle
      summary: Get vehicle
      tags: [Vehicles]
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdPath'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Include'
      responses:
        '200': { $ref: '#/components/responses/JsonApiOk' }
        '404': { $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound' }
components:
  securitySchemes:
    apiKeyHeader:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: x-api-key
    apiKeyQuery:
      type: apiKey
      in: query
      name: api_key
  parameters:
    PageOffset:
      name: page[offset]
      in: query
      description: Offset (0-based) into the collection.
      schema: { type: integer, minimum: 0 }
    PageLimit:
      name: page[limit]
      in: query
      description: Maximum number of resources to return.
      schema: { type: integer, minimum: 1 }
    Sort:
      name: sort
      in: query
      description: Comma-separated list of fields to sort by. Prepend '-' for descending.
      schema: { type: string }
    Include:
      name: include
      in: query
      description: Comma-separated list of relationships to include.
      schema: { type: string }
    IdPath:
      name: id
      in: path
      required: true
      schema: { type: string }
  responses:
    JsonApiOk:
      description: Successful JSON:API response.
      content:
        application/vnd.api+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            properties:
              data: {}
              included:
                type: array
                items: {}
              links:
                type: object
              meta:
                type: object
    BadRequest:
      description: Bad request - invalid parameters.
    Forbidden:
      description: Forbidden - invalid API key or rate limit exceeded.
    NotFound:
      description: Resource not found.
    RateLimited:
      description: Too many requests.