Elementary Poster Contest

The Mineta Transportation Institute Elementary Poster Contest invites students in grades 1-6 to convey their knowledge of safe, affordable, and sustainable alternative transportation modes to passenger cars through an artistic, visually compelling image.

2026-2027 Poster Contest

Who Keeps America Moving by Trains?

View and Download the Promotional Flyer

Who Keeps America Moving by Trains?

Every day, freight and passenger trains travel across the country, connecting our communities and delivering the goods we rely on. But behind every train is a dedicated team of talented people—like conductors, engineers, mechanics, dispatchers, and safety inspectors!

Could you be one of the people who keep America moving on rails?

This year’s contest challenges YOU to learn about and celebrate the amazing people and careers behind freight and passenger rail! Use your art and imagination to show us who keeps America moving by trains and why their work is so important to our communities.

This poster contest is co-sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and CRISI: Promoting Railroading Careers and Developing the Current Rail Industry Workforce.

Submission Deadline: January 22, 2027 at 11:59p.m. (PT)

Prizes and Awards!

Eight winners will be selected: Four from grades 1-3 and four from grades 4-6. All winning posters will be displayed at the annual Mineta Transportation Institute Banquet at San José State University in June. All prizes must be claimed by the end of the academic school year in which the entries were made.

People’s Choice Awards

The People's Choice Awards will go to the top-voted poster in each group. Based on judges' scores, we will publish the 4th-10th place posters from each group online, where people can vote for their favorite. The poster with the most votes from each group will receive a $50 gift card.

Elementary poster contest prizes and awards

Ready to Participate?

Participants must be students enrolled in any U.S. school (grades 1-6). Winning posters will be selected by a panel of impartial judges. The competition is open from September-December annually.

Group 1: Grades 1^st - 3^rd	Group 2: Grades 4^th - 6^th
Posters must be a standard poster board size 22 x 28 inches (If acquiring these posters is a financial burden, please contact MTI's Alverina Weinardy for assistance) Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally Media: paint, crayon, felt pen, markers, cut paper, and other art supplies (no printed components may be used) Only one entry per student A photo of the completed posters should be submitted using the form at the bottom of this page	Poster dimensions 18 x 24 inches (poster setting) Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally Digital poster contest- participants may use PowerPoint, Paint, Spark, or any another poster-making application Posters must be submitted in PDF format Only one entry per student Posters must be submitted using the entry form at the bottom of this page

Group 1: Grades 1^st - 3^rd

Group 2: Grades 4^th - 6^th

Posters must be a standard poster board size 22 x 28 inches (If acquiring these posters is a financial burden, please contact MTI's Alverina Weinardy for assistance)
Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally
Media: paint, crayon, felt pen, markers, cut paper, and other art supplies (no printed components may be used)
Only one entry per student
A photo of the completed posters should be submitted using the form at the bottom of this page

Poster dimensions 18 x 24 inches (poster setting)
Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally
Digital poster contest- participants may use PowerPoint, Paint, Spark, or any another poster-making application
Posters must be submitted in PDF format
Only one entry per student
Posters must be submitted using the entry form at the bottom of this page

Judging Criteria

Poster must adhere to the annual theme
Must show safe transit/ transportation practices
Creativity and originality
Catchiness of incorporating the theme as a motto, tag line, or hashtag
Visual appeal (i.e. layout, color selection, organization)
Spelling and message clarity
Quick tip: for digital entries, remember to reduce the file size for easy upload

Important Dates
Friday, January 22, 2027	Poster submittal deadline at 11:59PM (PT).
Monday, March 1-15, 2027	Winners announced and prizes coordinated with winning students. To claim their prizes, legal guardians must fill out a W9 form.
April 30, 2027	All prizes must be claimed.

For questions or concerns regarding this contest, please contact A lverina Weinardy.

2025 "Be a Safety Designer!" Poster Winners
What is a traffic garden? A traffic garden is a playground designed to look like a tiny city. It often has streets, crosswalks, and stop signs. It’s a safe place where kids can practice walking, biking, and learning the rules of the road. The banner design is adapted from the Huntington Park Traffic Garden design by Discover Traffic Gardens. Learn more here: https://www.trafficgardens.com/

Michael Ha Grade 5, Cleveland Elementary School	Ishitha Prejith Grade 1, Millard Elementary School

Anika Saxena Grade 1, Challenger School, Harwood	Samantha Ng Grade 3, Lincoln Elementary School