Solana Beach station
| Company type | Transit center |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Solana Beach , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail services (Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, NCTD COASTER) |
Solana Beach station, also referred to as the Solana Beach Transit Center, functions as a stop for Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner and the North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail within Solana Beach, California. The railway tracks pass through a trench beneath the city, a design completed in the late 1990s aimed at alleviating traffic congestion along Lomas Santa Fe Road and in Downtown Solana Beach.
The station, which opened in 1994, was created by architect Rob Wellington Quigley and replaced the older Del Mar depot located two miles to the south. Its construction was supported by $2.8 million from Proposition 116—a ballot measure allocating $1.99 billion toward passenger rail projects—and an additional $3.3 million from Transnet, a regional half-cent sales tax, which funded land acquisition and design efforts. Quigley’s architectural concept was influenced by 1940s Quonset huts found on North Cedros Avenue and featured a distinctive tower evocative of 19th-century railroad depots.
During the late 1990s, an $18 million improvement project lowered the tracks and platforms, allowing for the addition of a new track and platform while improving safety by eliminating a nearby railroad crossing.
In 2014, Solana Beach together with NCTD issued requests for redevelopment proposals aimed at transforming the station vicinity into office spaces, dining establishments, and an underground parking facility to complement the adjacent Cedros Design District and Coast Highway 101. Some plans proposed moving ticket sales to platform level; however, none of the submissions were ultimately chosen.
Among California’s 73 Amtrak stations, Solana Beach ranked tenth in ridership during FY2010 with approximately 1,100 daily boardings. By 2021, it had shifted to the 14th position statewide with an annual ridership of 94,621.
Former Amtrak station at Del Mar
Operating from the early 20th century until its closure in 1995, the Del Mar station served as the only passenger stop between Oceanside and San Diego for much of its existence. From its inception, Solana Beach station was intended to accommodate both Amtrak and commuter rail services as well as function as a key local bus transfer point. By 1989, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) voted to discontinue Del Mar station due to constraints such as limited parking capacity, inadequate accessibility, and difficulties in supporting bus and shuttle connections. These factors compromised its effectiveness as both a commuter and Amtrak stop. While the Del Mar City Council resisted expansion efforts and sought to preserve it solely as an Amtrak station, Amtrak ultimately favored relocating services to Solana Beach. Presently, the former Del Mar station building and platform remain intact next to active tracks and are frequently rented out for events like weddings.