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DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Davidson County officials have a list of projects they would like to complete if they only had the funding for it.

For Davidson County Planning Director Guy Cornman, the list includes bus routes, and widening U.S. Highway 52 and NC Highway 150. Now the county and the city of Lexington will get greater access to state and federal money for such projects.

With the population growth reported in the 2010 census, they need to switch from a rural planning organization to a metropolitan planning organization (MPO).

"These organizations serve as a representative between us and the folks at NCDOT when they develop their project list," said Lexington Public Service Director Rick Comer.

County and city officials need to decide between joining the High Point MPO or Winston-Salem MPO. Davidson County's planning director said, whichever they choose, he would like to see the entire county assigned to one.

Joining an MPO could score the county about $300,000 in state and federal funds. Lexington hopes the MPO can help with one project that has been years in the making; the west bypass.

"What [the West Bypass] would do is give a more direct route around the west side of Lexington to get truck traffic and traffic that's current flowing through the city on city maintained streets,” said Cornman.

County and city officials hope to make a decision by the end of the month.