Amazon declines to fund fulfillment center bus route
Amazon, a company valued last month at $1 trillion and led by the rich est man in modern history, recently declined a request by EMBARK to help fund a new bus route to serve more than 1,500 people being hired at its new Oklahoma City fulfillment center.
The revelation came out during the weekly OKC Central Live Chat at www.oklahoman.com with EMBARK Director Jason F er bra che and Council woman Jo Beth Hamon, in which frequent participant John Doyle asked whether EMBARK would consider adding a route to the expanding industrial district developing near Will Rogers World Airport.
Ferbrache said talks are ongoing with one employer by the airport and another proposal was made to Amazon earlier this year asking the company to pay $316,000 a year to extend a nearby route with 30-minute frequency and seven-day service. A similar deal exists with Rose State College and the City of Midwest City, and Hobby Lobby recently donated land to EMBARK for construction of a second “mini” bus transfer hub.
“As a transit provider, we want to serve those employees ,” Ferbrache said .“We did attempt to engage Amazon early on about the potential of helping us fund a route or some type of transit option. They were not interested in funding the incremental costs of extending a route and adding a bus to provide service.”
Hamon, who has no car and relies on public transit, called the revelation “frustrating.” The Oklahoma City Council agreed earlier this year to pay Amazon $1 million in job-creation incentives and agreed to spend up to $700,000 on road and other improvements along SW 89, Portland and Interstate 44 for the fulfillment center.
“They're a huge cor - poration that in so many ways taxpayers at almost every level of government have subsidized,” Hamon said. “But they're not interested in helping out with t heir employees by investing in transit infrastructure.”
When asked for comment, Amazon issued a statement indicating it might alter its response at a later time.
“Amazon has had numerous conversations about extending public transportation to its new fulfillment center ,” the statement said .“We continue to evaluate all options, including ones that best support schedules at the building.”