The call is out for students across Chicagoland to put their creativity to the test by entering Metra’s 19th annual Metra Safety Competition, which officially kicks off today.
This year’s contest theme is “Rail Safety is not a Game.” The competition is open to students in grades K through 12 throughout the six-county northeast Illinois region Metra serves. Both hand-drawn and digitally created entries are eligible.
First-place winners will receive a $500 Amazon gift card, and their winning artwork will be featured in Metra’s 2027 safety calendar and on Metra’s Saturday/Sunday/Holiday Day Passes. In addition, a People’s Choice contest will be held with 11 regional winners of a public vote receiving a $500 Amazon gift card. The school with the most submissions will also receive $500 in gifts and prizes.
All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 29, 2026. Winners will be notified via email the week of April 17. First-place winners will be invited to the Metra Board meeting on June 17 to be recognized for their achievements.
“Metra has a long history of being a proponent of rail safety education through its Operation Lifesaver presentations, which provide vital rail safety information to schoolchildren and other groups across northeast Illinois every year,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “This contest has been a successful way to engage and educate our children about the importance of safe behaviors around trains and tracks.”
For complete contest rules and information on how to submit an entry, please visit the Safety Competition website, metra.com/safety-competition.
