Metra launches 18th annual Safety Contest
Theme is “See Tracks, Think Train”
Students across Chicagoland are being asked to put their creativity to work for rail safety and enter the rail agency’s 18th annual Metra Safety Competition, which officially kicks off April 1.
This year’s contest theme is “See Tracks, Thinks Train.” Students can win up to $500 in prizes for their original artwork, which will be featured in Metra’s 2026 safety calendar and on Metra’s Saturday/Sunday/Holiday Day Passes. Students in grades K through 4 can submit a hand-drawn poster, and students in grades 5 through 12 can submit either hand-drawn or digital artwork, which will be judged in separate categories.
This year all entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. June 1. Winners will be notified via email the week of June 16. First-place winners will be invited to the Metra Board meeting on July 16 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 click here. The contest is open to all students in grades K-12 who reside in Metra’s six-county service area.
