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.

Register here!

SAFE Around Trains Challenge Filming Instructions

Get ready for the 2026 SAFE Around Trains Challenge!

In this webinar, Streets, Art, SAFE and Metrolink cover what participants need to know before filming weekend, including filming locations, preparation, and important safety requirements. Filming is on August 29 2026

Watch before filming and come prepared with your script and shot list.

We can't wait to see your rail safety PSAs!

About The Challenge

The SAFE Around Trains Challenge, presented in partnership with Metrolink, i gives high school students the opportunity to create a compelling Public Service Announcement (PSA) that promotes safe behavior around trains and railroad crossings.

Unlike the annual Streets, Art, SAFE competition, this is a fast-paced creative challenge. Students have 10 days to research, plan, film, and edit a 30-second vertical PSA designed for social media. Working within a real-world deadline encourages students to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and communicate important rail safety messages that can help save lives.

Participants will choose from a variety of rail safety topics and produce an original PSA that educates their peers about safe decisions around trains, railroad crossings, and passenger areas.

The challenge features its own awards and cash prizes, with winning PSAs recognized by Metrolink, Streets, Art, SAFE, and community partners during See Tracks? Think Train Week.

One of the most exciting parts of the challenge is the opportunity to film in a safe, controlled rail environment provided by Metrolink. During the official filming weekend, students will receive supervised access to designated filming locations, trains, and rail equipment while learning directly from Metrolink's Rail Safety Team. Participants must attend a required safety orientation before filming and follow all safety procedures throughout the event.

Whether your PSA is humorous, emotional, dramatic, or inspiring, the goal is the same: create a message that encourages people to make safer choices around trains.

Download Challenge Flier

Challenge Schedule

August 2025

  • August 15 - Registration opens

  • August 26 - Registration closes

  • August 29-30 - Official Filming Weekend at Central Maintenance Facility (CMF)

  • August 31 - Final submissions open

September 2025

  • September 4 - Final submissions close

  • September 14-19 - First round of Audience Voting in Streets, Art, SAFE social media

  • September 20 - Winners Announced

  • September 15th - 19th - See Tracks? Think Train Week and Final Audience Voting on Metrolink’s Instagram!

Rules and Guidelines

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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).

  4. Videos must be filmed in a 9:16 vertical format, designed for platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok. 

  5. All participants must submit signed waivers, parental consent forms, and a participation agreement prior to filming.

  6. Participants must wear appropriate clothing during the filming event. Closed-toe shoes are required. Flip-flops and sandals are not permitted. Long pants are strongly recommended.

  7. Students should arrive prepared. Scripts, storyboards, and filming plans should be completed before your assigned filming session. Each team will have approximately one hour to capture footage, so preparation is essential. 

  8. Use “Metrolink,” not “Metro.” These are different agencies and should not be confused.

  9. In making your PSA, the laws of your area must be followed, and no lives must be endangered.

  10. Your PSA may not contain language or content that would prohibit it from being aired on national television.

  11. 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.

  12. PSAs are to be original content. If they contain borrowed footage, photos, music, lyrics, etc, permission must be obtained 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. 

  13. 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.

  14. Students are encouraged to compete in teams of up to five students. Due to space and safety requirements, filming sessions may have limited capacity, and additional guidance will be provided before the filming weekend.

  15. Space for this challenge is limited. Students should only register if they are available to attend their assigned filming session during the official filming weekend.

Resources for Research Steps

There are a number of reliable resources you can use when completing the research step for this challenge. These resources provide valuable information about rail safety, common risks, and effective public awareness campaigns.

Some of the best resources include:

Rail Safety Resources

Examples of Effective Safety Campaigns

Real-World Examples

These examples illustrate the real consequences of unsafe behavior around railroad tracks and may help inspire ideas for your PSA.

Step 1 - Prompts and Topics

The first step is to choose a topic that you want to learn and make a PSA about!

To give more students the opportunity to explore different ideas, only two teams may select each topic. Once a topic has been chosen by two teams, it will no longer be available, so register early! 

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 or filming on railroad tracks is dangerous and illegal.

    • The life-threatening risks of walking on or near railroad tracks.

    • Why railroad tracks are never a shortcut.

  • 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 selected your topic, it's time to develop your idea.

A treatment is a short written description of your PSA. It is not your script. Instead, it explains what the audience will see, hear, and feel when watching your video.

Treatments are commonly used in the film industry to communicate creative ideas before production begins.

For this challenge, one paragraph is enough.

Your treatment should answer questions like:

  • What is your message?

  • Who is your audience?

  • What happens in your PSA?

  • Where does it take place?

  • How does it end?

  • How do you want viewers to feel after watching it?

Keep your treatment clear, engaging, and easy to visualize.

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, your team must complete the official registration form by August 26.

Registration is limited, and topics are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

When registering, you'll need:

  • Team members' names

  • Lead student contact information (optional)

  • Teacher, advisor, or club coordinator information

  • Your PSA working title

  • Your completed treatment

Once you’re registered, you’ll receive an email confirming your registration and the approval of your treatment.

Register for the Challenge

Step 4 - Prepare Your PSA

Once your treatment has been approved, it's time to prepare for filming.

Before the assigned filming day, your team should complete:

  • Your script

  • Your storyboard

  • Shot list

  • Production schedule

  • Practice runs

  • Props, costumes, and equipment

Being prepared is important. Your team will have approximately one hour during your assigned filming session, so planning ahead will help you make the most of your time.

Remember that your PSA should be created specifically for social media. Think about how you would naturally communicate this message to your friends online. Whether your PSA is serious, funny, emotional, or dramatic, your message should be clear, memorable, and encourage safe behavior around trains.

Exciting Filming Opportunities!

Saturday 29 August 2025 or Sunday 30 August 2025

One of the most exciting parts of the challenge is the opportunity to film in a safe, controlled rail environment provided by Metrolink.

During the official filming weekend, participants will have supervised access to designated filming areas and trains while working alongside members of the Metrolink Rail Safety Team.

Each team will:

  • Receive an assigned filming time.

  • Have approximately one hour to capture footage.

  • Attend a mandatory safety briefing before filming.

  • Be supervised throughout the filming session.

Because space and filming time are limited, students should arrive prepared with their storyboard, script, and filming plan completed.

Participants must arrive 20 minutes before their scheduled filming time and be accompanied by a parent, teacher, or another approved adult.

Step 5 - Final Submission

All final projects must be submitted no later than September 4.

Before submitting your PSA, complete the online Final Submission Form and upload your finished video.

Your submission should include:

  • Your final PSA

  • Any required permissions or release forms

  • Confirmation that your project complies with the competition rules

The Final Submission Form will be provided to your teacher or club advisor before the submission deadline

Awards and Prizes!

The SAFE Around Trains Challenge recognizes students who create impactful, creative, and accurate rail safety PSAs.

There are two categories of awards in this challenge:

1. Best Train Safety PSAs

The top PSAs, as selected by our panel of judges, will receive:

  • Gold Award

  • Silver Award

  • Bronze Award

Winning teams will receive:

  • Cash prizes

  • Certificates of Achievement

  • Recognition on Streets, Art, SAFE and Metrolink social media channels

  • Featured placement on the Streets, Art, SAFE and Metrolink websites

  • Screening at the annual Streets, Art, SAFE Awards Ceremony

2. Audience Choice Award

The Audience Choice Award celebrates the PSA that receives the most community support through social media voting.

Unlike the judged awards, this winner is selected by the public.

The winning team will receive:

  • A special Audience Choice Award

  • An exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Metrolink's Engineer Training Simulator

  • An opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art simulator used to train Metrolink engineers

  • Catered lunch during the visit

This unique experience is not available to the general public and offers students an inside look at how professional engineers are trained to safely operate passenger trains.

How Winners Are Selected

Best Train Safety PSA Awards

Film industry professionals, media specialists, and rail safety experts will evaluate each PSA using the official judging criteria found in the next section of this guide.

Judges will consider:

  • Creativity and originality

  • Storytelling

  • Production quality

  • Accuracy of rail safety information

  • Overall effectiveness of the message

The Audience Choice Award

The SAFE Around Trains Challenge includes a special award that is decided by the public—the Audience Choice Award!

Unlike the Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, which are selected by a panel of judges, the Audience Choice Award is determined through two rounds of public voting on social media.

This award gives students the opportunity to share their rail safety message with friends, family, classmates, and their communities while encouraging more people to learn about safe behavior around trains.

As described in the Awards and Prizes section, the winning team will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Metrolink's Engineer Training Simulator, along with a catered lunch. This unique experience is not available to the general public and offers students an inside look at how Metrolink engineers are trained.

How It Works

The Audience Choice Award consists of two rounds of public voting.

Round 1 – Streets, Art, SAFE Audience Voting

All eligible PSAs will be posted on the official Streets, Art, SAFE’s Instagramaccount.

During this round, the public will vote for their favorite PSAs by liking and sharing the posts.

Voting Dates

  • Opens: September 14

  • Closes: September 19

At the end of Round 1, the five PSAs with the highest number of votes will advance to the final round.

Round 2 – Metrolink Audience Voting

The five finalist PSAs will be featured on Metrolink’s Instagram during See Tracks? Think Train Week.

The public will once again vote for their favorite PSA, and the finalist receiving the most votes during this round will be named the Audience Choice Award Winner.

Voting Dates

  • September 21-27

The Audience Choice Award winner will be announced following the close of voting.

How Votes Are Counted

During both rounds of voting:

  • 1 Like = 1 Vote

  • 1 Share = 2 Votes

Participants are encouraged to share the official posts with friends, family, classmates, teachers, and their communities to help spread important rail safety messages.

Help Spread the Message

The Audience Choice Award is more than a competition—it's an opportunity to educate others about rail safety.

Every like, share, and comment helps increase awareness of the importance of making safe decisions around trains and railroad crossings. We encourage participants to promote their PSA responsibly and inspire others to join the conversation about rail safety.

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!