Development of transportation in southeastern Michigan was a focal point of Alexander's wide-ranging career in public works, which spanned some 60 years. He was chairman of the Detroit Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission from 1960 to 1968 and headed the landmark Transportation and Land Use Study (TALUS) that spelled out the need for a carefully planned network of road, street, bus and rail transportation in the region. Later, he chaired the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority created to develop regional transportation. Alexander began his career as a project engineer for the State highway Department, supervising the widening of Woodward, Gratiot and Michigan Avenues. He was for 19 years (1957-1975) deputy director, then director of the Oakland County Department of Public Works.