Safety Poster and Essay Contest

Metra’s Safety Poster and Essay Contest is back!

It feels great to be back and to celebrate 15 years of educating students about railroad safety! We have missed seeing all the student’s artwork and essays as they create an image or write about the importance of safety near the railroad tracks.

The Safety Poster Contest asks students to take on an advocacy role and communicate the importance of safety near the tracks. This year's theme: “Safety Is A Choice You Make” emphasizes the importance of being aware of your surroundings and personal safety when near railroad tracks, platforms, and crossings, which can be extremely dangerous.

One first-, second- and third-place winner will be selected from each grade, K through 12, and awarded the following prizes:

First Place: $500 gift card
Second Place: $250 gift card
Third Place: $100 gift card

Students can also submit an essay describing in 300 words or less why it’s important that “Safety Is a Choice You Make” when near railroad tracks, platforms, and crossings. There will be a first-place prize awarded in each of the essay contest's three divisions: grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12. One winner from each division will receive a $500 gift card.

In addition, winning designs will be featured in Metra’s safety calendar, website, weekend passes, and social media.

This year we made changes to the contest rules, deadlines, and prizes. The contest is open to all students in grades K through 12 living or attending school in Metra’s six-county service area: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. If a student won first place in the 2019-2020 contest that student is NOT eligible to enter in the 2021-2022 contest. The deadline for all entries is Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.

We want as many students as possible to participate and learn about railroad safety, and we encourage you to make rail safety and the Metra Safety Contest a school-wide project. Metra will recognize the school that submits the most entries in the 2021-2022 contest by awarding it a new computer compatible with the school’s current system.

Spread the word! We're providing posters in English and Spanish that you can download and print out and post or share on your websites or social media, We ask that you share them with your schools and communities to increase awareness of this free contest to the students, teachers, and parents. Please display them prominently and encourage participation.

English poster

Spanish Poster

For details of the contest rules, entry forms, and galleries featuring past winners visit our website: metracontest.com. You can also submit your entries electronically through the site or simply send them to us via email at metracontest@metrarr.com.

Be sure to follow the Metra Safety Poster Contest page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on the contest.

Questions? Email us at the address listed above or call us at 312-322-6776.

As always, we look forward to all the creativity that each year’s contest brings.

Remember that “Safety Is A Choice You Make”