Faced with growing traffic snarls, Fayetteville officials are considering putting some traffic lights on city streets.

That sounds simple enough, but it's not necessarily so, city engineer Don Easterbrook told the City Council recently.

"The traffic studies alone will take some time," Easterbrook said, adding that if the city puts stop lights on city streets, then the city will have to maintain them, and there is no one on staff who can handle the job.

All of the traffic lights currently in the city are on state highways, and the state maintains them. That won't be the case if the city elects to put lights at some of the more congested intersections on city streets.

Among areas under consideration are North Jeff Davis Avenue at Georgia Avenue, at Beauregard Boulevard and Grady Avenue, and at one or two locations in Fayette Pavilion shopping center.

The city has not yet taken ownership of the Pavilion streets, but officials say there's a need for a traffic light on Pavilion Parkway in front of Party City.

Council members told Easterbrook to go ahead and begin traffic studies, and look for a consultant with experience in traffic light maintenance.