Metra News Release

News Release

Metra safety poster contest prizes announced

Chicago, May 11, 2007 - Metra announced exciting new prizes today to be awarded to the winners of the inaugural Metra Safety Poster Contest. Participants winning first, second, or third place in each eligible grade, K-12, will receive:

FIRST PLACE: Hewlett Packard 510 Pentium M Notebook Computer
SECOND PLACE: $250 American Express Gift Card
THIRD PLACE: $100 American Express Gift Card

Metra also extended the contest deadline to May 31, 2007 to give every student the chance to participate in this important public campaign.
"This contest gives area students an active role in Metra's ongoing efforts to increase public awareness of lifesaving railroad safety practices," said Metra Executive Director Philip A. Pagano. "We want to encourage their leadership and give them the opportunity to see their artwork displayed for their peers at schools throughout the region."
Announced earlier this year, Metra's Safety Poster Contest is the latest piece in Metra's annual public safety campaign. The contest's theme, "Lead by Example," calls attention to every individual's ability to contribute to a culture of safety around trains and railroad tracks. Obeying safety signals, staying behind the yellow line on platforms, and not using train tracks as a shortcut are some of the many ways for students to set an example of train safety.
A panel of judges that includes local elected officials, journalists, emergency responders and other railroad safety proponents will select the winners this summer. Winners will be chosen based upon their creativity, originality, and representation of the contest theme. In addition to the prizes announced today, Metra will also distribute the winning entries to hundreds of Northeastern Illinois schools next fall and showcase them in the first Metra safety calendar.
Contest details are available at www.metracontest.com. Interested teachers can also contact Metra at info@metracontest.com or (312) 755-3566 for more information.