In the U.K. it is normal to have specific phases of the signal on which pedestrians can cross, and other phases on which cars can turn, so there is never a phase when pedestrians and vehicles are competing for the same space.
When I worked downtown, that used to drive me batty, if only because there is such an easy and ready solution. I realize reprogramming traffic lights isn't exactly free, but I can't see it being so expensive that it just isn't done. Last I worked downtown was probably five years ago. The fact that this still goes on should be the basis for firing a whole department.
Across the lake in Redmond, the lights have the designated ped crosswalk light that lets the peds go first. But it counts down, then before the traffic light goes red there is a green period when the ped crosswalk light is red. IOW, the cars get a chance to turn sans pedestrians before it goes red.
There's a few of these crosswalk tunnels in Westwood.