Santa Monica-area residents heading to the Venice Beach Fan Zone for World Cup quarterfinal watch parties can skip the car and catch the $1 Topanga Beach Bus, which is adding a temporary stop at Windward Avenue and Main Street on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11.

LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced the two-day service expansion on Thursday, July 9, saying large crowds are expected in Venice during the tournament and the added stop gives fans an alternative to driving.

The Topanga Beach Bus normally runs from the San Fernando Valley through Topanga Canyon to Topanga Beach and then to the Expo Line Santa Monica Station. The temporary Venice stop extends three of Friday's scheduled trips south to the fan zone. On Saturday, service to the Venice stop begins at 1 p.m., with a 10:10 p.m. return trip to the Valley to accommodate fans watching the evening match.

The fare remains $1 per trip for adults and children, 50 cents for seniors 60 and older and people with disabilities. The bus carries 22 passengers. Regular Topanga Beach service continues on both days.

Why the crowds

Friday's World Cup quarterfinal pits Spain against Belgium at SoFi Stadium, with kickoff at noon PT. The Venice Beach Fan Zone serves as the local watch-party venue for fans without stadium tickets. Saturday's quarterfinals are in Miami and Kansas City, but the fan zone will screen those matches as well.

Transit demand during the tournament has been substantial. LA Metro recorded nearly 50,000 rail rides and more than 30,000 shuttle rides for the July 2 Spain-Austria match at SoFi, according to the Associated Press.

The Santa Monica connection

The Topanga Beach Bus route already stops at the Expo Line Santa Monica Station, making it a familiar option for Westside riders. Horvath, who represents LA County's Third District including Venice and the bus corridor, has championed the route since it resumed partial service after the Palisades Fire disrupted Topanga Canyon Road.

The bus is hard to miss. It's decorated with rainbows, a bright blue ocean, and a graphic of Horvath and her dog, Winston.

Riders can board at any regular stop along the route, including the Santa Monica Station, and continue to the Venice fan zone on Friday and Saturday without transferring.