The tracks were lowered to their current position in the late 90s, to alleviate congestion on Lomas Santa Fe Road and Downtown Solana Beach.

The station was designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, and was built in 1994 to replace the aging depot in Del Mar, California two miles south which had been in use since the early 1900s.

To the basic semi-circular form of the hut, the architect added a tower reminiscent of those found on many train depots dating to the second half of the 19th century.

Solana Beach Transit Center was planned from the beginning not only as a stop for both Amtrak and commuter trains, but also as a major local bus hub.

At that time a committee of the San Diego Association Of Governments (SANDAG) voted in favor of its closure,[11] citing the limited availability of parking, the lack of accessibility, and the logistical difficulty accommodating bus and shuttle service.