(RALEIGH) -- With gas prices staying high, some may be looking at another way to get around. Pat Simmons with the State Rail Division said traffic for passenger rail service is up.

"For the first six months of this year The Carolinian ridership is up almost 6-percent and revenue is up 9-percent and then the Piedmont, which has really been discovered by North Carolinians, the ridership there is up 95-percent over last year," said Simmons.

The latest state budget proposal places less of a emphasis on rail and more on highway and bridge repair and renovation.