Conrad Venema
Strategic Planning Manager
The Rapid
Conrad Venema has been an instrumental team member at The Rapid since 1998. During his tenure he has helped to foster a spirit of collaboration that has encouraged cooperation across multiple departments. His technical skills in the field of planning, combined with his ability to deal directly with riders and the general public, make him an invaluable asset to the operations.
He has been with the agency through four successful ballot initiative campaigns, four subsequent system-wide service enhancement implementations, and ridership growth from 4.5 million rides in 2000 to 11.9 million rides in 2012. He possesses institutional knowledge that puts him on par with the best industry veterans, yet constantly demonstrates a level of youthful innovation and creativity that are absolutely critical to The Rapid during its current period of exponential growth.
As the manager of strategic planning, Venema is responsible for the supervision of the planning department, development and implementation of short- and long-range goals, development and maintenance of performance metrics, and management of projects including the SilverLine, the first bus rapid transit line in Michigan; the streetcar feasibility study; and the Transit Master Plan, the agency’s 20-year vision). He also oversees Title VI compliance.
The SilverLine BRT project is currently in construction and as the project manager, Venema has worked across three unique municipal jurisdictions to coordinate the planning and construction of Michigan’s first BRT line. His leadership has helped the Grand Rapids metro area leverage approximately $40 million of state and federal investment for this project. He is also currently managing the advanced conceptual engineering stage of what will likely be Michigan’s second BRT line, the Laker Line, which will provide service between downtown Grand Rapids and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.
Venema is an active member of his community and the South Hill neighborhood of Grand Rapids from which he often walks or takes The Rapid to work. When he’s not at work, he and his wife of more than 10 years, Delia, chase their two sons, Shay (4 years) and Coen (3 years), around their garden. Their family actively supports the redevelopment of their neighborhood and is a member of a local community-supported agriculture co-op.
He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids with a Bachelor of Arts in geography and went on to earn a Masters of public administration from Grand Valley State University, where he received the Outstanding Exit Project in a Master’s program award, and was a member of MPA Pi Alpha Alpha Honors Society.
“I have the privilege of working with a great team of people who share the same passion and belief in transit as a tool for shaping cities and a catalyst for great urban design.
“I sincerely believe that ‘transit is an instrument of change’ and I am thankful for being given the opportunity to a part of the industry.
“Having worked for The Rapid since 1998, I have experienced how quality public transit transforms lives and communities.
“The long road to success is the result of gaining the people’s trust, creating partnerships and a community that is willing to invest in quality transit. This journey is the most gratifying aspect of my job.
“When not focusing on work, I love spending time with my lovely wife, two boys and living in our wonderful historic neighborhood in the heart of Grand Rapids. In my free time, I like to cook, entertain, follow soccer and hockey, as well as play pinball.”
