Transportation

Commuting in and around the Washington metropolitan area can never be described as easy. However, with Bishop O'Connell High School's desirable location in Arlington, Virginia, a large number of students are within a reasonable commute. Access to Route 66, 495, the Metro, Arlington County Transit as well as school bus service from both Maryland and Virginia allow for a variety of ways to make the morning and afternoon commutes. In addition, there is sufficient parking on campus for those who wish to drive or carpool with other students.

Please read through the following options to learn about the transportation means that will best serve you and your family.

Directions

From Downtown Washington, D.C.
Take Rt. 66 West* to Exit 69 (Sycamore Street/Falls Church). Bear right off the exit onto Sycamore Street. Go through two stop lights and take the next left onto 26th Street. Take an immediate right onto Trinidad Street. Bishop O'Connell High School is located on the left.

From Northwest Washington, D.C.
Take Arizona Avenue to Canal Road and take a right onto Canal Road. Go across Chain Bridge into Virginia and follow Glebe Road to Lee Highway. Turn right onto Lee Highway and follow to the fifth traffic light at Sycamore Street. Turn right onto Sycamore Street and go one block. Turn left onto 26th Street and then an immediate right onto Trinidad Street. Bishop O'Connell High School is located on the left.

From I-495 in Virginia
Take Rt. 66 East* to Exit 69 (Lee Highway/Washington Blvd.). Go to traffic light at end of ramp and turn left onto Lee Highway. Go two blocks and turn left onto Underwood Street. Continue on Underwood for about three blocks. Bishop O'Connell High School is located on the right.

*Please be aware that vehicles on I-66 inside the Capital beltway during morning and afternoon commuting hours require an EZPass transponder and may incur a toll. Find out more at http://www.transform66.org/splash.html.

Maryland/Alexandria/Arlington School Bus for 2025-2026

Round trip service is available from several sites in Prince George’s County and Charles County, as well as stops on the way back in Alexandria and Arlington, including at Saint Thomas More Cathedral. For information about specific stops and rates, view the registration form below.

PLEASE NOTE - This is ONE bus route that begins in Maryland and crosses the Woodrow Wilson Bridge before continuing up Route 1 in Old Town, heading first to St. Thomas More Cathedral School, and then on to Bishop O'Connell High School.

Questions? Please contact Mr. John Hathaway, Transportation Coordinator at 703-237-1457 or at jhathaway@bishopoconnell.org.

Bus Stops (2025-2026)

Below is a list of stops with approximate pick-up and drop-off times.

Bealle Hill Road & Route 228 on-road pickup, (500 ft from Route 228 on Bealle Hill Rd) (6:00 am) (4:35-4:45pm)
Livingston RD on-road pickup (B&G Tavern, 14602 Livingston Rd, Accokeek MD) (6:05am) (4:30pm)
The Preserves of Piscataway (Accokeek, MD) (6:07am) (4:28pm)
Saint Mary’s Piscataway Catholic Church on-road pickup (13407 Piscataway Rd) (6:09am) (4:25pm)
Hillantrae Housing Complex on-road pickup (6:10am) (4:18pm)
Mary Catherine Estates on-road pickup (6:12am) (4:20pm)
Miller Farm on-road pickup (10200 Piscataway Rd, Clinton MD) (6:15am) (4:17pm)
Clinton (Rc’s Ribs and Soul) 9717 Temple Hill Rd & Piscataway Rd on the corner directly across from the restaurant) (6:17am) (4:20pm)
Padgetts Corner Shopping Center pickup (7106 Temple Hills Rd, Camp Springs, MD) (6:23am) (4:10pm)
Saint Ignatius Catholic Church (2317 Brinkley Rd, Ft. Washington, MD 20744) (6:35am) (4:00pm)
Speedway Gas Station on-road pickup (620 S Patrick St/RT 1) Alexandria, VA (6:50am)
West Marine on-road drop-off for those who are picked up at Speedway (601 S Patrick St/RT 1) Alexandria VA (3:45-3:50pm)
E Glebe RD (Northside Restaurant) to Commonwealth Rd to Reed Rd to Mt Vernon Ave. (Contact the driver for pickups along route) (6:55am-7:00am) (3:25-3:30pm)
Arlington Ridge RD (Contact the driver for pickups along route) (7:02-7:06am) (3:20-3:30pm)
St. Rita’s drop off Russell Rd and Glebe (3:35pm). Afternoon only!
Shuttle (STM) Saint Thomas More Cathedral School (105 N Thomas St.) to Bishop O’Connell High School (7:13am) (3:21pm)
Wilson Blvd (7:20am) (3:12) (Contact the driver for pickups along route).
Oxon Hill Library (Afternoon drop-off only) (3:58pm) 6200 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

On-Road Pick-ups and Drop-offs are available along the bus route. Please contact the driver if you are interested in an alternate pick-up/drop-off site (time given by driver).

INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION

Route Portion Maps - For Visualization Only

Map showing bus route in Maryland — **Maryland Portion Overview**

Map of Alexandria & Arlington bus stop areas — **Alexandria & Arlington Portion Overview**

The maps above are for visualization purposes only and are based on the schedules listed above. Please note that in most cases, the landmarks along the route do NOT indicate bus stops. Bus stops are based on ridership.)

In the morning, the last stop before crossing the bridge is St. Ignatius Catholic Church (2317 Brinkley Rd. in Fort Washington). In the afternoon, the bus makes an additional stop at the Oxon Hill Library (6200 Oxon Hill Road) before heading to St. Ignatius and beyond.

Virginia Bus Routes for 2025-2026

We are pleased to be able to offer bus service for families who live near Herndon, Fairfax, Vienna and Annandale/West Falls Church, through a contract with "Chariots for Hire." More details about drop-off and pick-up procedures will be available for families who register. Families in Arlington & Alexandria should refer to the tab regarding Maryland/Alexandria/Arlington areas above.

Below is a list of bus stops with approximate morning and afternoon pick-up/drop-off times.

Route A

St. Joseph Catholic Church (750 Peachtree St. in Herndon, Va.) – 6:35 AM and 4:00 PM
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church (8601 Wolftrap Rd. SE in Vienna. Va.) – 7:10 AM and 3:30 PM
Bishop O’Connell High School – 7:30 AM and 3:05 PM

Route B

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church (3700 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax, Va.) – 6:25 AM and 4:00 PM
Holy Spirit School (8802 Braddock Rd. in Annandale, Va.) – 6:55 AM and 3:45 PM
Saint Philip Catholic Church (7500 St. Philip Ct. in Falls Church, Va.) – 7:10 AM and 3:25 PM
Bishop O’Connell High School – 7:30 AM and 3:05 PM

2025-2026 BUS FEES - Bus fees are $2,300/year per student ($4,000/year for two siblings) for round trip service and $1,500/year for one-way service (AM only and PM only) payable either in full or monthly via your FACTS account. The bus service is a non-refundable annual agreement.

Questions? Please contact John Hathaway at jhathaway@bishopoconnell.org.

Carpool Interest

Families interested in carpooling for the 2025-2026 school year should complete the form linked below.

In early August, all families who express an interest in carpooling will receive a link to a password-protected page with contact information from other O'Connell families who are also looking to share rides.

2025-2026 CARPOOL INTEREST FORM

Questions? Contact us at communications@bishopoconnell.org.

Metro and Shuttle

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operates the second largest rail transit system and the fifth largest bus network in the United States. Bishop O'Connell High School is a 15-minute walk from the East Falls Church Metro station (Orange and Silver Line).

The school offers a free morning shuttle bus from the East Falls Church station. The bus picks up from the Kiss & Ride lot between 7:15 and 7:25. Please let us know if your student is new to the bus, so the driver knows to wait for you.

For information on Metro schedules and fares, visit www.wmata.com. Routes can be mapped online or by phone at 202-637-7000.

Arlington Transit Bus

Arlington Transit operates within the county supplementing Metrobus with smaller, neighborhood friendly vehicles and providing access to Metro and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Most buses operate on clean-burning natural gas.

The Route 52 bus stops on Trinidad Street just beyond Little Falls Road.

Route 52 details, timetable, and fares - https://www.arlingtontransit.com/routes-schedules/art-52/

For the most up to date ART information, visit: www.commuterpage.com/art/index.htm.

Parking on Campus

Given the wide range of transportation options for our students, ample parking is typically available for students. There are three student parking lots on campus, with one lot (near the baseball field) designated for seniors only. Numbered spaces are reserved for staff and teachers.

A valid parking sticker must be displayed in the rear window of all student vehicles.

Seniors participate in a lottery on the first day of school to get assigned senior parking ($150).

The form to register a vehicle for those NOT parking in the Senior Lot is available online. Parking permits are available to licensed drivers for $50. Please purchase the parking permit online HERE and have your student come to the Student Life Office for their parking sticker.

Even if students park on Little Falls Road, they are required to display a valid parking sticker.

For complete more information on parking policies, please refer to the Transportation/Parking section of the student handbook.

Questions may be directed to Mrs. Suzanne Fitzpatrick at 703-237-1409.