The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments voted Wednesday to help find a water taxi operator and to act as the grant recipient for a proposed pilot service between Groton and New London.

This vote will enable the state to enter into an agreement with one entity, the council, rather than with several municipalities. The move makes sense because the Council of Governments is a metropolitan planning organization, which handles regional transportation planning, and represents many municipalities, the council’s Executive Director James Butler said. 

Over the years, the council also has supported the creation of the Thames Heritage Maritime Park, which would tie together the culture and history of Groton and New London, he said. 

The proposed taxi service, which the state has agreed to fund, would run from early September to November.