The Bay Area Rapid Transit’s board of directors July 22 vowed to continue with the proposed $484-million Oakland Airport Connector, even though the federal government in February withdrew $70 million in stimulus funds because affirmative action goals were not met. The board approved a new funding plan by a vote of 8 to 1 that reduces project costs by $8 million and proposes to utilize BART’s reserve account, high-speed rail bonds and a loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to fill the gap. The withdrawal of stimulus funds postponed awards of contracts for the 3.2-mile automated people mover project to Flatiron/Parsons Joint Venture and Doppelmayr Cable Car Inc.