MIAMI -- As gas prices continue to rise, more and more South Florida commuters are buying tickets to the Tri-Rail.

"This is the best thing that ever happened to me and my pockets," Tri-Rail rider Shevette Porter said.

Porter, a Palm Beach County resident, works in Miami-Dade County.

"It's been costing $150 dollars a week, just in gas," she said. "That's just five days out of the week. That's not including weekends."

Porter said she put the brakes on high gas prices by buying a Tri-Rail pass.

"I'm losing time, but it's well worth it," she said. "With the gas prices, I'd rather lose time than money."

Her children, who attend school in Miami-Dade County, said they like the public transportation.

"You can relax, do your homework and other things," Earl Porter said.

Some commuters, however, said convenience outweighs cost.

Karen Larkin said she wouldn't consider riding the Tri-Rail.

"Only because I commute to the airport, so you have to pay whatever it is," she said.

Adam Coulton said he wouldn't ride it because he does not live in a convenient area for the Tri-Rail stations.

Still, the Porters are part of the growing number of South Floridians using public transit. In March, Tri-Rail's numbers were up 20 percent. Last month, they were up 28 percent.

"Thursday of last week we carried 15,871 passengers, which is definitely the second biggest day in the history of the system," Tri-Rail representative Bonnie Arnold said.

Monthly ridership has climbed to 350,000.

"If your company is a member of the employer discount program, you can have unlimited rides for a month for $60,” Arnold said.

That's what attracted Publix supervisor Jose Aparacio, he said.

"Got my little DJ Ditty and everything is good to go," he said.

As he jammed to his iPod during the commute, he said he also thinks about the money he's saving. He lives in south Miami-Dade County and works in Miami Gardens.

"I was spending about $400 to $450 a month going to work," he said. "Now I spend exactly $60 a month with my employee discount pass from Publix."

Miami-Dade County Transit is still working on stats for March and April, but they said their numbers are up because park-and-ride parking lots are almost always full.