ttc-status

name: ttc-status description: Comprehensive TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) toolkit with real-time service alerts, arrival predictions, and live vehicle tracking. Use when the user asks about TTC transit status, delays, service disruptions, route arrivals, vehicle locations, or wants to check if a specific route (bus, streetcar, or subway line) is running normally. Supports queries like "What's the status of bus 68?", "Is line 2 running?", "Any delays on streetcar 509?", "When's the next bus 68?", "Where is my bus right now?", or "Check TTC service alerts".

TTC Status & Tracking Toolkit

Comprehensive real-time Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) information including service alerts, arrival predictions, and live vehicle tracking.

Overview

This skill provides three powerful tools for TTC transit:

1. Service Alerts - Check disruptions, delays, and service changes
2. Real-Time Arrivals - See when the next vehicle arrives at a stop or route
3. Live Vehicle Tracking - Track vehicle positions in real-time

All data comes from TTC's official GTFS-Realtime feed.

🚨 Service Alerts

Check service disruptions, delays, planned work, and accessibility issues.

Basic Usage

Check system-wide alerts:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all

Check specific route:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 68        # Bus 68
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 2         # Line 2 subway
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 509       # Streetcar 509

Advanced Filtering

Show only alerts happening RIGHT NOW:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 1 --now

Filters out scheduled future work and past alerts.

Filter by transit mode:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all --mode subway        # Subway only
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all --mode bus           # Buses only
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all --mode streetcar     # Streetcars only
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all --mode accessibility # Elevators/escalators

Example Queries

Output

Shows for each alert:

• 🚨 Alert description
• Effect type (NO_SERVICE, SIGNIFICANT_DELAYS, MODIFIED_SERVICE, etc.)
• Active period (when it's happening, in EST)
• Additional details from description

🕐 Real-Time Arrivals

Get live arrival predictions for TTC stops or routes.

Usage

By stop ID:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --stop 12345

By route (next vehicles on route):

python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --route 68
python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --route 2
python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --route 509

Limit results:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --route 68 --limit 3   # Show next 3 arrivals

Example Queries

Output

Shows:

• Route or stop being tracked
• Arrival times in human-readable format ("2 minutes", "Arriving now")
• Up to N vehicles (default: 5, configurable with --limit)

Note: Stop IDs can be found on TTC stop signs or via TTC's trip planner.

📍 Live Vehicle Tracking

Track real-time vehicle positions with GPS coordinates.

Usage

Track specific route:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 68       # Track bus 68
python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 2        # Track Line 2 trains
python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 509      # Track streetcar 509

Show all vehicles system-wide:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py --all

Limit results:

python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 68 --limit 5   # Show 5 vehicles max

Example Queries

Output

Shows for each vehicle:

• 🚌 Vehicle ID and route
• GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude)
• Google Maps link to exact location
• Status (IN_TRANSIT_TO, STOPPED_AT, etc.)
• Current stop (if at a stop)
• Speed in km/h (if available)

Route Types Reference

Buses

Use route number: 7, 36, 68, 192, etc.

Subway Lines

• 1 - Line 1 (Yonge-University)
• 2 - Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth)
• 3 - Line 3 (Scarborough RT)
• 4 - Line 4 (Sheppard)

Streetcars

Use route number: 501, 504, 505, 506, 509, 510, 511, 512

Common Workflows

Morning Commute Check

# 1. Check if your route has alerts
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 68 --now

# 2. If clear, check when next bus arrives
python3 scripts/check_ttc_arrivals.py --route 68 --limit 3

# 3. Track the bus approaching your stop
python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 68

System-Wide Status Check

# Check all current alerts
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --all --now

# See subway-specific issues
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py --mode subway --now

Route Investigation

# User reports: "Is Line 2 delayed?"
python3 scripts/check_ttc_status.py 2 --now          # Check alerts
python3 scripts/check_ttc_vehicles.py 2 --limit 10   # See train positions

Dependencies

All scripts require gtfs-realtime-bindings to parse TTC's GTFS-Realtime protobuf feed.

Install:

pip install gtfs-realtime-bindings

The scripts will display a clear error message with installation instructions if the library is missing.

Data Source

• API Base: https://gtfsrt.ttc.ca
• Format: GTFS-Realtime (Protocol Buffers)
• Refresh: Real-time (live data)
• Provider: Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) via Toronto Open Data

Endpoints Used

• /alerts/all - Service alerts (all modes)
• /alerts/{subway,bus,streetcar,accessibility} - Mode-specific alerts
• /trips/update - Real-time arrival predictions
• /vehicles/position - Live vehicle GPS positions

Resources

scripts/

• check_ttc_status.py - Service alerts with mode filtering and active/scheduled distinction
• check_ttc_arrivals.py - Real-time arrival predictions by stop or route
• check_ttc_vehicles.py - Live vehicle tracking with GPS coordinates