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 and other awards for the winners! Winners will be posted by MetroLink, SAFE, and our partners, as part of See Tracks? Think Train Week from September 15th through the 21st. There will also be a very special Audience Choice Award!
Participants will have 10 days to create a 30-second vertical video PSA, based on a selected topic, that raises awareness about safety around trains.
Students’ PSA-style films 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 or August 24th, 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.
Challenge Schedule
August 2025
August 7th - Registration opens
August 20th - Registration closes
August 21st - Timeslots and filming locations announced
August 23rd - Filming on assigned tracks and at Union Station
August 24th - Filming on assigned tracks and at Union Station
August 26th - Final submissions open
September 2025
September 2nd - Final submissions close
September 12th - Winners announced
September 15th - 19th - Winning PSAs publicized by Metrolink; Streets, Art, SAFE; and collaborators!
September 15th - Audience voting opens
September 29th - Audience voting closes
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 of 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
Step 1 - Prompts and Topics
The first step is to choose a topic that you want to learn and make a PSA about!
But there is a catch - not everyone can choose the same topics - only 2 student teams can work on the same topic, so some topics may “sell out”. Thus you should choose your topic and register (step 2) quickly!
Choose from the following topics:
Track Safety
The dangers walking near train tracks while distracted.
The risk of trying to beat a train at a crossing.
What to do if your car gets stuck on the tracks (don’t call 911 - look for the blue and white Emergency Notification System - ENS - sign!)
Why taking photos on train tracks is dangerous and illegal.
The life-threatening risks of walking on or near train tracks.
Passenger Safety
The importance of standing behind the yellow line on platforms.
The dangers of running on train or bus platforms.
Why it’s important to keep aisles and exits clear on a train.
Holding on while the train or bus is moving to prevent falls.
Staying within designated crossing areas at stations.
General passenger etiquette and awareness.
How and why to report suspicious activity or emergencies.
Step 2 - Write Your Treatment
Once you’ve picked your topic, write a treatment for your film.
A treatment is a short written description of your project. It is not the script. It explains what the audience will see and hear in your film. In the movie world, treatments are used to share ideas so others might want to work on them or help make them.
A good treatment explains:
What happens in the story
How the film will look and feel
Who the main people or characters are (if there are any)
For a 30-second PSA, one short paragraph is enough.
Your treatment should say:
Why you want to make this film
What happens in the story and how it ends
Who or what it’s about
Where it happens
How you want the audience to feel or react
Keep it clear and interesting so people can picture your idea and get excited about it!
Example Treatment #1
Title: Wrong Place for a Selfie
This 30-second PSA will start with a teen holding their phone, saying, “Okay, this is going to be epic!” They strike silly poses while taking selfies… but each photo background accidentally shows a train getting closer. Fun, upbeat music plays as the camera zooms out to reveal they’re standing way too close to the tracks. A friend rushes in, pulling them away, and says, “Dude, not here!” The scene ends with cheerful music and bold text: “Train tracks are not a backdrop. Stay safe. Stay alive.” The goal is to use humor to remind people that walking near train tracks—even for a quick photo—is dangerous.
Example Treatment #2
Title: Too Close to Danger
This 30-second PSA will open with quick clips of teens laughing, texting, and wearing headphones as they walk along train tracks. The scenes will feel casual and bright at first. Suddenly, the sound fades and a low rumble grows louder. A train horn blasts, and the camera cuts to a wide shot showing just how close they are to danger. The scene freezes as bold text appears: “Never walk near train tracks. Stay alert. Stay alive.” The goal is to show that walking near train tracks—especially while distracted—is never safe.
Step 3 - Registration
To participate in The SAFE Around Trains Challenge, teams must complete the official registration form by August 20th. Space is limited for this contest; once a topic is selected by two teams, it will no longer be available. So choose your topic early.
What you’ll need:
Team members' names and (optional) contact information for the lead student.
Sponsoring teacher/club coordinator and contact information.
Your PSA working title and treatment.
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive an email confirming your registration and the approval of your treatment.
Step 4 - Make Your PSA!
Starting on August 23, students will have 10 days to finish their 9:16 vertical format PSA film.
After you register, start working on:
Your script
Your storyboard
Your practice runs
Any other prep before filming day.
You will have only 1 hour on the train tracks to get all your footage. Because time and space are limited, no extra time can be given.
And remember: students’ PSA-style films should be made for social media—short, interesting, and to the point. Think: “How would I talk to my friends about staying safe around trains?” Use that style for your message. It can be fun, serious, funny—or any style you think your friends would like. Get creative! The only limit is your imagination.
Exciting Filming Opportunities!
Saturday 23 August 2025 or Sunday 24 August 2025
For this challenge only, students will have the opportunity to film, in a safe, controlled environment, on actual train tracks, under the supervision of the Metrolink safety team!!!
Filming will take place on tracks at either the Newhall station or the Pomona north station. You will have 1 hour on the tracks.
Students will also have the opportunity to film at Union Station on an actual Metrolink train!
Students will be assigned a specific time slot and filming location. For safety reasons, this will be the only opportunity to film in these areas—see competition rules and guidelines. No other filming on train tracks outside of these designated locations will be allowed in the contest. Student safety around trains is our top priority, so this is a non-negotiable rule.
Participants must arrive 20 minutes early for a required Metrolink Safety Team safety briefing and must be accompanied by an adult (such as a parent, teacher, or guardian).
Free Metrolink transit will be provided upon request to help students reach the filming location/s.
Step 5 - Final Submission
All final projects must be submitted no later than September 2nd.
Before submitting the completed PSA, students must complete the online submission form, which includes uploading their final video and confirming that all required documents and permissions are in place.
The final submission form will be provided to your teacher or club counselor.
Awards and Prizes!
There are 2 categories of awards for this challenge:
1. Best Train Safety PSAs:
Gold
Silver
Bronze.
2. Best Audience Choice Award!
The Best Train Safety PSAs: Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes will include:
Cash awards!
Certificates.
Featured on Metrolink, SAFE, Streets, Art, SAFE, and community partners’ social media.
Featured on SAFE and Metrolink’s websites.
Screening at the 2026 Streets, Art, SAFE Awards Ceremony.
The new Audience Choice Award is based on voting on social media and has it’s own special award:
Winners of this award will be granted an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Metrolink’s state-of-the-art engineer training simulator—a rare opportunity not open to the public.
This unique experience offers a chance to step into the role of a Metrolink conductor with a fully immersive, high-tech environment that simulates the experience of operating a train.
You will receive a guided tour of this one-of-a-kind training tool and have the opportunity to try it yourself. It is a truly exclusive experience you will not want to miss! We will also cater in lunch.
Go to the next section—Judging Criteria—to find out how to win!
Judging Criteria - How to Win!
As with the overall Streets, Art, SAFE competition, we will have two types of judges.
Film industry specialists and social media specialists will judge the following categories. They give each PSA a score of 1 to 5 in each.
Creativity and Originality
Including best use of a category of PSA: reenactment, testimonial, celebrity, satire.Strength of tagline/messaging
A PSA should leave a memorable lasting impression on the audience through its message.
Cinematography
Camerawork and lighting.
Editing
Acting
Production design
Everything that appears in front of the camera - such as sets, props, costumes, location, etc.Sound
Sound effects, production audio, music, etc.
Rail safety experts judge the PSAs on the following categories. They give each PSA a score of 1 to 5 in each.
Research and accuracy of stats and/or facts, or accurate portrayal of a situation (such as in the case of a testimonial PSA).
Effectiveness of the message.
Did the PSA leave a memorable lasting impression.
Emotional Impact of the message.
How likely is the message to influence the viewer to change behavior?
How likely they are to re-watch or share the PSA with others?
The Audience Choice Award
This challenge has something special—an Audience Choice Award decided by social media voting!
As stated in the “Awards and Prizes” section, the winner will get an exclusive experience: a behind-the-scenes visit to the engineer training simulator (not open to the public) and a catered lunch.
All participating PSAs will be announced on September 12. Voting will happen on Metrolink’s Instagram and Streets, Art, SAFE’s Instagram. Follow both accounts so you know when your PSA is posted!
Voting Dates:
Opens: September 15 (when the first PSA is posted)
Closes: September 29 (10 days after the last PSA is posted)
How to Vote:
Ask friends, family, classmates—anyone you know—to go to Metrolink’s or Streets, Art, SAFE’s Instagram and like your PSA post.
Share your PSA as many times as you want to get more votes.
Vote Count:
1 like = 1 vote
1 share = 2 votes
The Audience Choice winner will be announced on October 3 on both Metrolink and Streets, Art, SAFE’s Instagram accounts.
Questions?
Reach out to Constanza Berber—the Streets, Art, SAFE Program Coordinator—if you have any questions about this special challenge.
We hope you enjoy this opportunity and welcome your feedback on how it goes!