MBTA Shapes API

Trip route polylines for mapping

Work with this as data

Every API here is available over the APIs.io API and to AI agents over MCP.

MCP server

One button, every client — Claude, Cursor, VS Code and the rest.

https://apis.io/mcp

Tools for apis

7 MCP tools reach this
  • find_apisBrowse and filter every API in the catalog.
  • get_api_artifactsOne API's artifacts, grouped by type.
  • get_openapiThe primary OpenAPI for this API.
  • find_similar_apisAPIs that look like this one.
  • apis_io_searchSTART HERE — APIs, providers and tags for one query, each with its total.
  • resolveTurn a domain, URL or GitHub org into the provider it belongs to.
  • find_cohortsEvery scored population of providers in the catalog.
All 92 tools

Call it yourself

curl for this page
This API
curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/apis/mbta-shapes-api"
All apis
curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/apis?limit=25"

Discovery needs no key. Ratings and market analysis are Pro.

Get an API key

Free tier, no email required.

A second provider on the same verified email joins the account you already have.

OpenAPI Specification

mbta-shapes-api-openapi.yml Raw ↑
openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: MBTA V3 Alerts Shapes 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
servers:
- url: https://api-v3.mbta.com
  description: Production
security:
- apiKeyHeader: []
- apiKeyQuery: []
tags:
- name: Shapes
  description: Trip route polylines for mapping
paths:
  /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'
components:
  parameters:
    Sort:
      name: sort
      in: query
      description: Comma-separated list of fields to sort by. Prepend '-' for descending.
      schema:
        type: string
    PageLimit:
      name: page[limit]
      in: query
      description: Maximum number of resources to return.
      schema:
        type: integer
        minimum: 1
    PageOffset:
      name: page[offset]
      in: query
      description: Offset (0-based) into the collection.
      schema:
        type: integer
        minimum: 0
    IdPath:
      name: id
      in: path
      required: true
      schema:
        type: string
  responses:
    BadRequest:
      description: Bad request - invalid parameters.
    NotFound:
      description: Resource not found.
    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
  securitySchemes:
    apiKeyHeader:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: x-api-key
    apiKeyQuery:
      type: apiKey
      in: query
      name: api_key
externalDocs:
  description: MBTA V3 API Documentation
  url: https://www.mbta.com/developers/v3-api