A Streets, Art, SAFE Challenge gives students 10 days to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) film based on a provided topic. It’s a fast-paced, real-world experience where students can sharpen their skills and bring their creative ideas to life on a deadline.
About The Challenge
The SAFE Around Trains Challenge, sponsored by MetroLink, is an exciting new contest launching in the 2025–2026 season as part of our 10th anniversary celebration. This fast-paced project invites students to flex their creative muscles by producing a compelling, social-media-ready 30-second PSA - challenging themselves with a real-world, deadline-driven project.
The challenge will include its own set of cash prizes for the winners! Winners will be aired by MetroLink, SAFE, and our partners as part of See Tracks? Think Train Week from September 15th through the 21st.
Participants will have 10 days to create a 30-second vertical video PSA, based on a provided prompt, that raises awareness about safety around trains.
Your PSA-style film should be made for social media: short, engaging, and to the point. Think: “How would I talk to my friends about staying safe around trains?” Use that tone to communicate your message.
And the best part—on August 23rd, students will have access to actual train tracks, Union Station, and a train for filming! Filming locations will be provided by Metrolink on a set schedule, with clear safety protocols in place. Students will also receive a rail safety briefing directly from Metrolink’s Rail Safety Team.
Rules and Guidelines
All filming on or near train tracks must take place during your team’s assigned time slot at the designated location—no exceptions. (See the Filming Day section for more details.) This is a critical safety rule, and a zero-tolerance policy will be enforced. Students will be allowed to film in teams of 3 people at the tracks.
A mandatory safety briefing is required before filming on the tracks. Teams must arrive 20 minutes early on the day of filming to participate in this briefing. Late arrivals may not be allowed to film.
Film PSAs are to be 30 seconds maximum (or shorter) in length, including a 3-4 second closing graphic with Metrolink and SAFE logos (provided by SAFE).
Videos must be filmed in a 9:16 vertical format, designed for platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok.
All participants must submit signed waivers, parental consent forms, and a participation agreement prior to filming.
Use “Metrolink,” not “Metro.” These are different agencies and should not be confused.
In making your PSA, the laws of your area must be followed, and no lives must be endangered.
Your PSA may not contain language or content that would prohibit it from being aired on national television.
PSAs must be non-discriminatory. They may not portray any particular ethnicity, gender orientation, or religion in a negative light. Be kind and inclusive in your creations.
PSAs are to be original content. If they contain borrowed footage, photos, music, lyrics, etc, permission must be attained for their use, with that permission sent to Streets, Art, SAFE. By sending in your submission, you are agreeing that you have the rights to all footage, music, lyrics, etc, or have secured permission for their use.
AI-generated elements are allowed, but only when the human artist is the primary creative generator of the assets and elements used in the PSA. AI may be used for brainstorming, generating initial concepts, or as a tool within a broader, human-driven creative process. The final piece must reflect the artist’s vision and originality. Submissions that are primarily AI-generated with minimal human input will not be accepted.
Students are encouraged to compete in teams of up to 5 students. Due to safety requirements, only 3 students from the team will be allowed to film on the tracks. Students are welcome to compete individually if they choose.
Resources for Research Steps
There are a number if reliable resources that you can use to conduct your research step for this contest. Some of the best include the following:
Operation Lifesaver: https://oli.org/materials
See Tracks? Think Train Week: https://oli.org/about-us/public-awareness-campaigns/see-tracks-think-trainr-week
California Public Utilities Commission: Rail Safety: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/rail-safety